Biography of

Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji Maharaja

 Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji Maharaja
By Karnamrita dasa
©2003 by Karnamrita dasa
All Rights Reserved

Introduction
Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja
1. Family Life and Renunciation
2. In Svananda-sukhada-kunja
3. The Illusory Universe
4. Sri Mayapura
5. The Real and Pretender Bhajananandi
6. Deception and Actual Residence in the Holy Dhama
6a. The New Babaji
7. Babaji Maharaja
8. Deception and Devotional Service
9. The Materialist’s Grains
10. The Love of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji for Sri Mayapura-Dhama
11. Displaying Ecstatic Symptoms
12. The Sharp Words of the Sadhu
13. The Householders’ Vow
14. Renunciation for Krishna’s Pleasure and False Renunciation
15. That is the Highest Happiness
16. The Different Forms of Maya
17. General Instructions
18. Ashta-kaliya-lila
19. An Unusual Bhajana-kutira
20. Unlawful Imitation and Wickedness
21. Desire for Scholarship
22. Devotion and Hypocrisy
23. The Enjoying Spirit of the Materialist
24. In the Hope of Acquiring Wealth
25. Gaura! Gaura! Not Rupee! Rupee!
26. One Suffers the Consequences of His Own Deeds
27. The Atonement for Adultery
28. Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu and Maharaja Manindra Chandra
29. Secret Immoral Behavior
30. Result of Offense Committed to the Acarya
31. Sensuous People View the World with Lust
32. The Attachment of a Maha-bhagavata
33. Unconditional Shelter at the Lotus Feet of a Bonafide Spiritual Master
34. The Pride of Artificial Renunciation
35. A Hypocrite’s Prayer for Mercy
36. Single-minded Chanting of the Lord’s Holy Name
37. Love and Lust
38. What is Genuine Madhukari?
39. The Duty of Married Couples
40. The Return Ticket
41. External Purity and Material Desire
42. The Birthplace of Lord Gaura
43. A Festival for Paupers
44. How to Recognize a Vaishnava
45. The Imitation of Maha-bhagavatas
46. Anyabhilasha (Desire for Other Things)
47. Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu on Bhaktivinoda Thakura
48. The Artful Pastimes of a Vaishnava
49. Srila Gaura-kisora’s Benediction
50. His Entrance Into the Eternal Pastimes of the Lord
Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji
Appendices
Introduction

The descriptions of the exploits of Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Sri Srimad Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji
Maharaja are certain to bewilder materialistic persons, for one who is under the sway of worldly desires cannot
enter into the mysteries of the deeds and thoughts of a person fully immersed in spiritual consciousness.

dhanyasyayam nava-prema
yasyonmilati cetasi
antarvanibhir apy asya
mudra sushthu sudurgama

“Even a most learned scholar cannot understand the activities and symptoms of an exalted personality in whose
heart love of Godhead has awakened.” [Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya 23.40, cited from Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu
1.4.17]
There are two kinds of realized devotees of Lord Krishna: the bhajananandis and the goshthyanandis. The
liberated preachers, or goshthyanandis, step down from the highest transcendence and behave in a way which is
intelligible to ordinary conditioned jivas, with a view to inspiring them to take up devotion to Krishna. The
liberated bhajananandis, on the other hand, generally do not step down to the platform of the madhyama-
adhikari, the preacher of moderate spiritual advancement. Remaining immersed in their service to Krishna on
the platform of spontaneous devotion, they take note of the illusory material world and those who inhabit it but
occasionally, and then in a most perfunctory way. This is not due to a lack of compassion on their part, but
rather is determined by the inspiration they receive from the Godhead and an intensity of humbleness that
convinces them they are too lacking in devotion to school others in the holy life. Moreover, the bhajananandis’
thoughts are not always transformed by them into a materially intelligible expression. Thus, their words and
activities may at times seem inscrutable or otherworldly.
Some devotees are instrumentally utilized by the Lord in the work of propagating the science of devotion.
Others are inspired by the Lord and His pure devotees to lead lives of seclusion and intense renunciation. It
might be said that Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, who was a genuine bhajananandi, did little preaching, yet his
influence was felt by the greatest preacher of the day, and that preacher gave him credit as his inspiration.
Therefore, although it is a fact that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Sarasvati Thakura and Srila A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada all emphasized widely preaching Krishna consciousness for the benefit of all,
we should not commit the blunder of imagining that a devotee like Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was
less advanced than they.
Very few devotees in this age are qualified to perform nirjana-bhajana (solitary worship) in the manner of
Haridasa Thakura, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Lokanatha Gosvami, Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja or Gaura-
kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. In fact, those who attempt it generally end up meditating on sex life and
performing illicit activities in secret. Such efforts are often motivated by a desire to achieve name and fame as a
Vaishnava. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has written about this and Srila Prabhupada has also
commented:
“One reference is made here for those who are very anxious to imitate the behavior of Thakura Haridasa in an
unnatural way. One must receive the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His representative before adopting
such a way of life. The duty of a pure devotee or a servant of the Lord is to carry out the order of the Lord. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to go to Bengal and preach, and He asked the Gosvamis, Rupa
and Sanatana, to go to Vrindavana and excavate the lost places of pilgrimage. In this case the Lord asked
Haridasa Thakura to remain there at Jagannatha Puri and constantly chant the holy names of the Lord. Thus Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave different persons different orders, and consequently one should not try to imitate the
behavior of Haridasa Thakura without being ordered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His representative. Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura condemns such imitation in this way:

dushta mana! tumi kisera vaishnava?

pratishthara tare, nirjanera ghare,
tava hari-nama kevala kaitava
“My dear mind, you are trying to imitate Haridasa Thakura and chant the Hare Krishna mantra in a secluded
place, but you are not worth being called a Vaishnava because what you want is cheap popularity and not the
actual qualification of Haridasa Thakura. If you try to imitate him you will fall down, for your neophyte
position will cause you to think of women and money. Thus you will fall into the clutches of maya, and your so-
called chanting in a secluded place will bring about your downfall.’ ” [Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila,
11.195 purport]

In his preaching Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji always spoke out against those who were cheating in the name
of reclusive chanting. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, upon the order and approval of his gurus, Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, spent some years performing such
secluded bhajana, following a vow similar to that of Srila Haridasa Thakura. Yet he did not recommend it for
his followers. In fact, he took sannyasa, situating himself within the varnasrama corpus so as to offer special
respect to such Paramahamsas as Rupa Gosvami and the Rupanuga Gosvamis (including his father and guru), to
demonstrate how exalted and rare such perfect devotion and purity are and how high the qualifications are for
those who want to follow in the footsteps of liberated souls.
One should, at any rate, not misunderstand the position of a genuine devotee like Srila Gaura-kisora dasa
Babaji, who was actually a liberated, Paramahamsa Babaji. According to the material view, he made his
appearance in the world in a ordinary vaisya (merchant class) family and was not well educated, being
practically illiterate. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has described his spiritual master in his song Sri
guru-parampara: maha-bhagavata-bara, ari-gaura-kisora-bara, hari-bhajanete ja’ra moda-“...the eminent Maha-
bhagavata Sri Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, whose sole joy was found in hari-bhajana.” Srila Prabhupada described
him in a letter to Rayarama dasa, dated December 14th, 1967: “To think of becoming a fool is the real
qualification for a bonafide disciple. As soon as one thinks that he has become the wiser man than the spiritual
master one is surely doomed. We should remain everlastingly a fool before the spiritual master. Not artificially,
but feelingly, and then we can make real progress. Even my spiritual master, a great scholar, remained a so-
called fool before his spiritual master, who was outwardly an illiterate village fellow. So in the Absolute world
the fool is also the master, and the master is also a fool in reciprocal dealings. Lord Caitanya also accepted
Himself a great fool before His spiritual master, and all of us must follow the transcendental process.”
In his manifest pastimes Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja exhibited a relentless, acute detachment and
indifference to the material world. On the other hand, when he took occasion to extol the unlimited glories of
the Holy Name and point out the varieties of cheating and hypocrisy of so-called renunciates, as well as to
reveal the inherent uselessness of endeavors for material happiness, his preaching was always effective and
penetrating for his sincere hearers. Although outwardly almost illiterate and seemingly blind, scholars would
approach him for the proper siddhanta (conclusion) of difficult philosophical issues, and they always received
perfect explanations. Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was delighted to sit and hear the discourses of
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura at Surabhi-kunja, Navadvipa, and he respected Thakura Bhaktivinoda as a siksha-
guru. This was his sincere feeling, as well as a proper observance of etiquette, for he took Babaji initiation from
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s disciple, Srila Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja, which made Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura the Godbrother of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja’s diksha-guru. Nevertheless, Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura considered Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja his dear friend, and he took Babaji
initiation from him in 1908. It was Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura who directed Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura to the lotus feet of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji.
In the history which follows, it may not always be perfectly clear why Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji acted as
he did, but we can at least be certain that he acted according to the dictation of Krishna for the benefit of the
world. By hearing about his unrelenting intolerance of all forms of hypocrisy and deception and his tremendous
austerity and devotion, we may hope to gain determination to practice Krishna consciousness with purity and to
give up all forms of deceit and duplicity. Crookedness, hypocrisy and deceit are anarthas (obstructive
contaminations of the heart), which are represented by the demonic wizard, Bakasura, who was killed by
Krishna. This is described in the Sri Caitanya-sikshamrita of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The Thakura also
states that without the destruction of deceit and crookedness, “…pure devotion to Krishna cannot arise.”
Therefore, we should pray that by recounting the glorious activities of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja,
the eternal associate of the Lord, the personification of renunciation who constantly exhibited powerful, ecstatic
feelings of separation from Krishna, and the cutter of the pretenders and hypocrites with the axe of his
unstinting mercy, that he will be pleased to bless us with a particle of his mercy. Being thus blessed with his
divine grace, one can easily surmount the illusory web of crookedness and deceit and gain entrance to the
Kingdom of God.

mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes

tamo-dvaram yoshitam sangi-sangam
mahantas te sama-cittah prasanta
vimanyavah suhridah sadhavo ye

“One can attain the path of liberation from material bondage only by rendering service to highly advanced
spiritual personalities. These personalities are impersonalists and devotees. Whether one wants to merge into the
Lord’s existence or wants to associate with the Personality of Godhead, one should render service to the
Mahatmas. For those who are not interested in such activities, who associate with people fond of women and
sex, the path to hell is wide open. The Mahatmas are equipoised. They do not see any difference between one
living being and another. They are very peaceful and are fully engaged in devotional service. They are devoid of
anger, and they work for the benefit of everyone. They do not behave in any abominable way. Such people are
known as Mahatmas.” [Bhag. 5.5.2]
The following accounts are taken from articles which first appeared in the Sajjana Toshani magazine, the
magazine originally published under the auspices of Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura and continued
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. The articles first appeared in 1917, shortly after the disappearance
pastime of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, and bore the title Amar Prabhur Katha, which in English
means “Tales of My Spiritual Master”. These articles were written by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura,
and the original articles may be found in the Devananda Gaudiya Matha in Navadvipa, W. Bengal and its
branch in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
The Caitanya Matha later compiled these articles into a single, small book, upon which much of this volume is
based. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura instructs us therein how bewildered souls, pregnant with
arrogance and intoxicated with desires for sense gratification, approach the spiritual master pretentiously. The
neophyte devotees are always in a precarious situation. Due to a lack of proper knowledge and sufficient faith,
their tendency is to imitate exalted Vaishnavas. Such imitation, however, causes one to become degraded.
“…One should not imitate the behavior of an advanced devotee or Maha-bhagavata without being self-realized,
for by such imitation one will eventually become degraded.” (The Nectar of Instruction, p. 58) One must study
Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja’s instructions in order to escape the jaws of false renunciation and
offensive imitation.
In his introduction to these articles, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura wrote: “I have been busy within
this material world trying to bring sense gratification within the grasp of my hand. I have often thought that by
obtaining the objects of sense gratification, all my shortcomings will be fulfilled. I often attained different facets
that were very rare indeed, but my own personal shortcomings were never mitigated. In this material world I
have had the association of very aristocratic persons. However, seeing their various deficiencies, I could not
offer them praise. The most merciful Supreme Lord Sri Gaurasundara, seeing me in such a lamentable condition
at a time of adversity, gave permission to His two dearmost devotees [Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila
Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji] to grant their blessings to me. Because I was always intoxicated with a worldly false
ego, wanting to be repeatedly praised, I deprived myself of my own real benefit. But because of the influence of
my previous births’ activities in devotional service, I came into the association of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
who was the form of my spiritual well-wisher. My spiritual master [Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji] would go
and visit Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and many times would reside with him. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, out
of his compassion for other living entities, pointed out my spiritual master, Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji.
Upon seeing my spiritual master, the extent of my worldly false ego diminished. I knew that all the other living
entities who have taken the human form of life were also fallen and low like myself. But by gradually observing
the spiritual character of my master, I realized that only a Vaishnava could reside in this material world and be
of exemplary character.”
The two main sources of information for the life sketch of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja were Gaura-
parshada-caritavali and Gaudiya-vaishnava-jivana, two compilations of biographies of the Gaudiya Vaishnava
acaryas. Additional biographical information has been found in the autobiography of Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, Svalikhita Jivani, and other biographical works about Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji was the pure link in the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya between the late
eighteenth and early twentieth centuries. He carried and preserved the pure message of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu intact, and he was the instructor of Thakura Bhaktivinoda, who inaugurated the preaching of
Krishna consciousness throughout India and out to the Western world as well. He also initiated Bhagavat dasa
Babaji, the vesa-guru of Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, instructed Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, the spiritual
master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and instructed Srila Sarasvati Thakura himself. According to
some accounts there were occasions at Surabhi-kunja (Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s place of bhajana at
Godrumadvipa in Sri Navadvipa-Dhama) when three or four generations of pure Vaishnavas, including Srila
Jagannatha dasa Babaji, Thakura Bhaktivinoda, Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji and Srila Sarasvati Thakura met
together for sankirtana and Krishna-katha. Some of these meetings and personalities were fictionalized in Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s transcendental novel, Jaiva Dharma. The sankirtana performed by these spiritual
colossi was the source of tremendous auspiciousness for the world. Their transcendental gatherings were
reminiscent of the meetings of the Six Gosvamis and their followers at the Radha-Damodara temple in
Vrindavana. All of the above-mentioned personalities were pure, eternally liberated souls, who had descended
from Goloka for the benefit of the world: to inaugurate a renaissance of bhakti and the sankirtana movement of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja’s special contribution to this sublime
resurgence of devotion to Krishna was his role, in concert with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, of discovering and
authenticating the precise location of the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Thakura Bhaktivinoda referred to him as Vaishnava-sarvabhauma, the Commander-in-chief of the Vaishnavas.
From all reports he lived to be somewhere between 130 to 150 years old, and he is listed in the Gaudiya
Vaishnava succession (parampara) as a contemporary of Baladeva Vidyabhushana, although his babaji-vesa-
guru was, by point of diksha the disciple of the disciple of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana. Be that as it may, he
was the most prominent acarya after Baladeva Vidyabhushana and, being his spiritual equal, is thus counted as
his co-acarya. He was a perfectly self-realized soul, and he was the beloved leader of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas
during the time of Thakura Bhaktivinoda, who accepted him as his siksha-guru.
1: Family Life and Renunciation

Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja appeared some time in the 1830’s in the district of Faridapura,
adjacent to the place called Tepakhola, in the village of Vagyana in East Bengal, or what is now known as
Bangladesh. He appeared in that village, which is situated on the bank of the Padma River, as the son of a
vaisya most probably called Vamsidasa. According to one biographer, however, Vamsidasa was the name of
Srila Gaura-kisora before he took to the renounced order. During his boyhood his mother and father arranged a
marriage for him, and he remained in household affairs for more than twenty years. While a householder, he
worked as a broker in the grain business, but even at that time he exhibited his spirituality. After the demise of
his wife, Srila Gaura-kisora left his business and went to Vrindavana. There he approached Srila Bhagavata
dasa Babaji, one of the foremost disciples of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, and accepted from him the
traditional Paramahamsa Vaishnava Babaji dress.
After this, he became completely renounced and sojourned under trees in various parts of the 168-mile
Vrajamandala (circle of Vrindavana). He continuously acted thus for a period of approximately thirty years.
During this time he would sometimes travel to the holy places of pilgrimage in Northern and Western India, as
well as the Gaura-mandala (the circle of Navadvipa). He associated with Srila Svarupa dasa Babaji Maharaja in
Jagannatha Puri, whose ecstatic activities were recounted by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his autobiography.
He also associated with Sri Bhagavan dasa Babaji in Kalna. He went to Kuliya, the holy site of Srila Jagannatha
dasa Babaji’s bhajana and associated with Srila Caitanya dasa Babaji. All of these Babajis were pure and
exalted devotees. Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji became very famous among the great devotees of Vrindavana
and was awarded the appropriate title of bhajananandi. Even though he received such honor, he never
endeavored for even a modicum of material sense gratification and totally disapproved of the secret material
desires of pseudo-renunciates. He was entirely removed from such inclinations and would perform his pure,
unalloyed devotional pastimes alone, in a profound devotional mood.
In the year 1897, during the month of Phalguna, when he was in his sixties, and at the time when the Yoga Pitha
(birth site of Sri Caitanya) was revealed by the exertions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Gaura-kisora
Prabhu proceeded to Navadvipa-Dhama from Vrindavana under the instruction of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji
Maharaja. From this time until his disappearance, Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji remained in Sri Navadvipa-
Dhama, living in different villages and realizing their non-difference from the holy places of Vrindavana. He
begged by gathering dry foodstuffs from the householders of the Holy Dhama. He would sometimes offer those
foodstuffs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the simple expedient of holding them in his hand. In order
to cook he would collect dry wood from the paths, and he would wash earthen pots discarded by the villagers
along the roadside near the Ganges River on the occasion of eclipses (due to the effects of an eclipse such pots
were considered impure and unusable). In order to clothe himself, he would go to the shore of the Ganges and
collect and wash discarded cloth that had been used to cover corpses at the burning ghat. Thus he always
remained independent of the support of others, simply by utilizing items of no value to anyone else. In such a
manner he obtained the practical necessities of life.
In 1897 Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura constructed his place of bhajana on the bank of the Sarasvati River at
Godruma, the island of the nine islands of Navadvipa-Dhama which represents kirtana (recitation of the names
and glories of God). That asrama, which was called Svananda-sukhada-kunja and consisted of a moderate two-
story house, several small outbuildings and a walled compound, was a gathering place for exalted souls.
Previously it had been the site of Lord Nityananda’s Nama-hatta, the place from whence Lord Nityananda
inaugurated His preaching exploits in Bengal under the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Here, the Thakura
recited and explained the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and other topics regarding the conclusions of devotional service,
and Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja would come and hear those talks with great delight. The Thakura
often cited the behavior of Srila Gaura-kisora to elucidate the meaning of the word nirapeksha-‘indifference’.
He often discussed the unequalled renunciation, pure devotion and attachment to Krishna that Babaji Maharaja
displayed. In the days of the Thakura’s retirement the two souls met and associated in great happiness.
For some time Babaji Maharaja stayed in Surabhi-kunja and performed hari-bhajana. His room, which adjoined
the wall of the kunja, has been preserved. Babaji Maharaja displayed fervent enthusiasm upon hearing the
discourses of the Thakura.
His only possessions were the Tulasi beads he wore around his neck and the Tulasi mala (rosary) he kept in his
hand for counting his rounds. He also kept a few books, such as Narottama dasa Thakura’s Prarthana and
Prema-bhakti-candrika. Sometimes he wore a torn cloth and sometimes he went naked. At other times he would
utter harsh sounds of disgust for no apparent reason. Even though it appeared that Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji was
not a learned Sanskrit scholar, still the purport and conclusions of all scriptures were luminous in his heart and
character.
It was never possible for anyone to serve him, for he was never willing to accept any kind of service from any
person. Whosoever witnessed his unearthly, genuine condition of renunciation was reminded of the pastimes of
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. All kinds of divine powers and opulences were always waiting at his command
ready to serve him. Sometimes such powers would be manifest in the form of his appearing to be omniscient.
He was always able to reveal the deceitful nature lying within the hearts of pretenders. Although a person
resided outside his immediate purview, Srila Gaura-kisora could elaborately and scrutinizingly reveal the
person’s cheating nature, because he was in direct contact with Supersoul. This ability, however, was not his
principal virtue. He exhibited the highest standard of devotion to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, and because of
his exemplary character he was recognized as the personification of the deepest degree of separation from Lord
Sri Krishna. This is what distinguished him from most other Vaishnavas and what spread the luster of his lotus
feet.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has written: “Many young, clever, old, learned, foolish, proud and
reasonable persons came into contact with Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu, yet they could not realize his real identity.
This is indeed the mystic opulence of the devotees of Lord Krishna. Many persons came to consult with Srila
Gaura-kisora Prabhu about their insignificant desires. They would always get suggestions, but those suggestions
were usually the cause of their disappointment. Innumerable persons accepted the Babaji dress and acted as
devotees of the Lord, but actually they were imposters, far away from being real sadhus. Srila Gaura-kisora
never accepted such a false way of life; his sincerity was apparent in itself. His loving attitude was such that
even when he obtained a very opulent offering, his renunciation predominated.
“Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji never displayed any distaste for those persons who were inimical to him. He
also never manifested any special affection for those very dear to him. He would often express himself saying,
‘in this material world I am all alone in my service to Lord Krishna. Everyone is worshipable by me.’ Another
noteworthy transcendental topic is that many materialistic, foolish persons masquerading as devotees and
imitating pure devotion would come and surround him. They would consider that they were the dear objects of
his affection, while they engaged their minds in so many worldly sense objects. Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu
would never display any intention of driving them away and also no symptoms of a compromising attitude.”
2: In Svananda-sukhada-kunja

In 1898, Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the embodiment of the highest boon in the succession of the
Rupanuga-sampradaya, arrived, singing in a plaintive voice, at the newly constructed Svananda-kunja. This
transcendental crown jewel of the renounced order was wearing a cap made of tiger skin and was carrying a
basket containing various items employed by him in his devotional service. After his arrival, he offered Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati four or five pieces of rope upon which to chant rounds of Hari nama, a tilaka stamp
with the initials of ‘Hare Krishna’ (‘ha’ and ‘kri’), and the tiger skin cap and other paraphernalia for worship of
the Lord. Babaji Maharaja had previously received the basket and cap from his spiritual master, Srila Bhagavat
dasa Babaji. That same year, in the month of Magha, Babaji Maharaja initiated Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura.
The great Vaishnava often came to Svananda-kunja to hear Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s explanations of the
Srimad-Bhagavatam. He would usually arrive around three o’clock in the afternoon and leave around five
o’clock. On several occasions he spent the night in a corner of Svananda-kunja in a small hut with a tin roof.
Sometimes he would stay in Pradyumna-kunja, and then again he would fast and under no circumstances accept
prasada. In this way he would either fast, accept prasada or cook for himself. Sometimes he would behave as if
afflicted by the disease called siroroga (insanity) and by blindness. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura arranged a
balanced diet for him, but to his dismay Babaji Maharaja continued to follow his program of unsurpassable
renunciation, disregarding the aforementioned diet. He eventually lost his sight, almost fully, in both eyes.
In the year 1908, Srila Gaura-kisora thoroughly lost his physical vision. In the following year he stopped
traveling and resided principally in Navadvipa at Pradyumna-kunja, and sometimes stayed at Godruma with the
Thakura. Pradyumna-kunja had previously been owned by Saraccandra Vasu of South Calcutta, but that
gentleman died and the kunja was inhabited by Babaji Maharaja. When he sojourned with the Thakura he would
chant japa and perform his internal service to Lord Krishna. Sometimes, becoming aloof from external bodily
consciousness, he would be unaware of whether he was dressed or not, and he would go to swim in the
Sarasvati River with his cloth open. Thereafter, he would enter his small bhajana-kutira, and in a very deep
voice would begin chanting the names of the Gopis of Vrindavana.
3: The Illusory Universe

When it seemed that Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji’s eyesight was deteriorating, Srila Sarasvati Thakura requested
him to go to Calcutta for treatment. Thakura Bhaktivinoda also repeatedly requested him to go there, but Srila
Gaura-kisora would reply, “I will never go to the illusory universe, Calcutta.” Once, Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura informed Babaji Maharaja that his servant, Srila Sarasvati Thakura, would stay with him in Calcutta
and thus Babaji Maharaja would not have to suffer any inconvenience there. Upon hearing this, Srila Gaura-
kisora Prabhu replied, “I will never accept service from Prabhu, rather I shall die by drowning. If I drown
myself in the Ganges, I will become a ghost-so I will drown myself in the Sarasvati.” Repeating this statement,
Srila Gaura-kisora then left posthaste, running towards the Sarasvati River, which flowed close to the entrance
to Svananda- Kunja. Srila Sarasvati Thakura pursued him, trying to dissuade him, humbly and repeatedly
requesting him to return. After this incident, he was not to be found for forty-five days. Then, just as suddenly,
he reappeared at Svananda-kunja and announced, “I can’t achieve Sri Krishna by killing myself. Nevertheless, I
cannot tolerate anyone serving me.” Although requested hundreds of times to take medicine, Srila Gaura-kisora
never consented.
Srila Gaura-kisora always observed the Ekadasi fast rigidly, rejecting even water. On other days he often ate
dried, cracked rice soaked in water, with chilies, or at other times simply earth from the bank of the Ganges. His
renunciation was not artificial, however, but was symptomatic of his indifference to worldly existence.
4: Sri Mayapura

From 1907 to 1908, Srila Sarasvati Thakura lived in Mayapura at the Yoga Pitha. It was here that the
Adhokshaja Deity of Srila Jagannatha Misra, the father of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was later unearthed.
Before construction of the Yoga Pitha temple began, Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji went there from Kuliya on many
occasions. During this period he gave many instructions to Srila Sarasvati Thakura, and Sarasvati Thakura
engaged in his guru’s service. Once, although externally completely blind, Babaji Maharaja arrived alone at Sri
Dhama Mayapura at the Yoga Pitha in the early hours of the morning. Later that day, Srila Sarasvati Thakura,
amazed to see him, and realizing that he must somehow have crossed the Ganges in the dead of night and
walked several miles, inquired, “When did you arrive?”
Babaji Maharaja replied, “I arrived at about two in the morning.”
Completely astonished, Srila Sarasvati Thakura then asked, “What was it that brought you here last night, and
how was it possible for you to see the path?”
Babaji Maharaja answered, “Someone showed me the proper way.”
Srila Sarasvati Thakura replied, “We can see with our external vision, but you appear to be blind. Who would
bring you such a long distance by the hand, and then upon arriving here suddenly leave in the middle of the
night? How is it that you were able to come? It must have been Sri Krishna who personally brought you here.”
Hearing this supposition, Srila Babaji Maharaja began to laugh slightly. The fact was that in those days one
could not walk from Kuliya to Mayapura because there were no footpaths, and one could not take a boat
because there were no landing places. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati again inquired, “Who brought you across
the river?”
Srila Gaura-kisora answered in the same amused manner, saying, “Someone took me across the river.” His
disciple could then understand that the mysterious person was none other than Vrajanandana, Sri Krishna.
5: The Real and Pretender Bhajananandi

Once, while Srila Gaura-kisora was residing in a dharmasala in Kuliya, Srila Sarasvati Thakura asked him how
he had lived at Vraja and many questions about the residents of Vrindavana and the various devotees who were
performing solitary worship there. Srila Sarasvati Thakura specifically asked about the bhajananandis, who
were reputed to be perfectly self-realized souls. Upon hearing the question, Srila Gaura-kisora Gosvami laughed
again and again and told Sarasvati Thakura, “They are all imposters.”
One of the Babajis in question, who lived at Kusama Sarovara in Vrindavana, was famed as a great
bhajananandis. He had a few disciples who were also reputed to be perfectly self-realized. But Babaji Maharaja
did not even slightly agree to their being genuine. After some time these pretenders became afflicted with
leprosy of the throat and left their bodies after suffering terribly. They had resided in the Dhama with their
intelligence bent upon sense gratification, and they had behaved offensively toward Babaji Maharaja.
6: Deception and Actual Residence in the Holy Dhama

Once, a young devotee, very anxiously desiring to perform devotional service and reside in the Holy Dhama of
Navadvipa, came and revealed his intentions to Babaji Maharaja. This young devotee had made arrangements to
remain in the Dhama as a physician, to buy medicines by begging for the money and to thus treat the sick and
infirm. He considered that in this way he would be performing his bhajana and also simultaneously performing
great welfare activity. To receive confirmation of his plans, he had come to consult Srila Babaji Maharaja.
When he arrived and presented his proposal, he quoted the following verses describing Murari Gupta in the
Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 10.50-51:
pratigraha nahi kare, na laya kara dhana
atma-vritti kari’ kare kutumba bharana
cikitsa karena yare ha-iya sadaya
deha-roga bhava-roga,-dui tara kshaya
“Srila Murari Gupta never accepted charity from friends, nor did he accept money from anyone. He practiced as
a physician and maintained his family with his earnings. As Murari treated his patients, by his mercy both their
bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja could understand the young man’s inherent insincerity and the pretension of his wanting
to live in the Mama and revealed the defects of his plan by saying, “Murari Gupta is an eternal associate of Lord
Caitanya and is always resident in the Holy Dhama. He never expressed any intention to stay in the Lord’s
Dhama by unjustly supporting himself so as to enjoy sense gratification. He never, at the expense of any temple,
supported his family, nor was he ever interested in earning money to fill his stomach. He neither accepted
charity from his friends nor anyone else. He was the reservoir of ecstatic love of Lord Gaura. By his mercy one
can achieve love for Gaura. Whomever he would treat would become completely freed from all disease and
obtain love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Without following the standard of his character, if Murari Gupta’s
behavior is imitated in a motivated way, then one will be forced to suffer the result of his misdeeds. You are
suffering from the disease of material existence yourself, so how will you properly treat others? You should
incessantly and earnestly pray for the mercy of Srila Murari Gupta. Then you will be able to understand what
real benevolence is. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has stated that sincere intelligence is exhibited by chanting the
holy name of Hari, giving up all pretension. Those who chant with material intentions are considered
unintelligent. You should renounce this sort of thinking and devote yourself seriously to the process of hearing
and chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord, otherwise your ‘devotion’ will simply be lust and everything will
be ruined. The desire to administer free medicine for the sake of personal prestige and the desire to reside in the
Dhama have nothing in common. A person interested in fruitive work can never live in the Dhama.”
Hearing these instructions, the doctor asked, “What should I do?” Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji replied, “If
you actually want the benefit of residing in the Dhama, then you should first give up these ideas you are
entertaining. Abandon this misconceived notion of benefiting materialistic persons by distributing free medical
treatment. Those who are resolute in performing worship unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, will never discharge any
unfavorable activities, and they will perform only activities favorable to devotional service. Beyond this, all
other activities will be the cause of deep conditioning. If you want to support yourself in the way you have
planned, then you should leave the Dhama and return to your former residence. Do not reside within the
Supreme Abode of the Absolute Truth, Sri Krishna, and earn your livelihood deceitfully.”
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada commented on the two verses above cited as follows: “It should
be noted that a grihastha (householder) must not make his livelihood by begging from anyone. Every
householder of the higher castes should engage himself in his own occupational duty as a brahmana, kshatriya,
or vaisya, but he should not engage in the service of others, for this is the duty of a sudra. One should simply
accept whatever he earns by his own profession-Murari Gupta could treat both bodily and spiritual disease
because he was a physician by profession and a great devotee of the Lord in terms of spiritual advancement.
This is an example of service to humanity. One disease, which is called adhyatmika, or material disease,
pertains to the body, but the main disease is spiritual. The living entity is eternal, but somehow or other, when in
contact with the material energy, he is subjected to the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. The
physicians of the modern day should learn from Murari Gupta. Although modern philanthropic physicians open
gigantic hospitals, there are no hospitals to cure the material disease of the spirit soul.
As pointed out by Babaji Maharaja, Murari Gupta was an eternal resident of the Dhama and an eternal associate
of the Lord. Thus, his activities should not be imitated by one who does not have the power to cure the disease
of material existence.

6a: The New Babaji

A neophyte devotee who had taken the dress of a Babaji often came to converse with Babaji Maharaja. On one
such occasion he decided to take up residence in the Holy Dhama. He approached a certain queen who was
living in Kuliya, and who owned land thereabouts, in order to purchase three-quarters of an acre of land from
her. Upon hearing this news, Babaji Maharaja commented, “The Supreme Abode of the Lord is transcendental.
How is it possible that this queen has become a landowner in Dhama? How is it that she is entitled to sell that
new baba a portion of the land of the Dhama? All the jewels found within the universe are not valuable enough
to purchase even one speck of dust in the Dhama. Therefore, how can any landowner amass enough wealth to
become the owner of a plot of the transcendental abode of Sri Navadvipa Dhama? Has this new baba, for the
exchange of the practice of devotional service, become entitled to a portion of land in Navadvipa-Dhama?
Anyone with such materially tinged intelligence is very offensive and far away from actual residence within the
Dhama. Those persons whose attitude is thus tainted by materialistic intelligence, who think that the Dhama is
part of the material universe, are considered by the devotees of the Supreme Lord to be sahajiyas, or cheap
imposters.”
7: Babaji Maharaja

Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja’s analysis of this incident is very significant and fully exposes the mistaken
attitude of the neophyte devotee. Nothing within the material creation can be possessed by anyone but the
Supreme Proprietor:
isavasyam idam sarvam yat kinca jagatyam jagat
“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Supreme Lord...”
Isa Upanishad 1
It is the greatest illusion to imagine that any facet of the unlimitedly valuable and sublime spiritual realm, which
is composed of cintamani, or the philosopher’s stone, is within the jurisdiction of our controlling power. As a
matter of convention one may say that he owns something, but the real Proprietor must never be forgotten,
otherwise such a conception becomes a source of bewilderment. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura purchased land in
the Dhama, but he was never censured by Babaji Maharaja, for he perfectly understood who the Real Possessor
was and considered himself merely the custodian of such land. One cannot achieve true residence in the Dhama
by purchasing a ticket or a plot of land. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has explained the actual process of
entering and residing in transcendental abodes such as Navadvipa and Vrindavana: visaya chariya kabe suddha
ha’be mana kabe hama herabo sri-brindabana” When one has forsworn material sense gratification and his mind
is completely purified, then he is able to behold Vrindavana.”
8: Deception and Devotional Service

Once, a resident of Bangladesh (then East Bengal), who was a very wealthy landlord, scholar and brahmana,
and reputed to be a great devotee of the Lord, came with a friend to see Srila Babaji Maharaja. The landowner
appeared to be so deeply absorbed in devotional ecstasy that his friend had to support him as he walked lest he
fall down due to excessive trembling of the body. When the pair arrived before Babaji Maharaja, two other
persons in the assembly, recognizing the famous landlord, immediately received him as an advanced devotee of
the Lord. They carefully offered their obeisances to him and arranged a sitting place. At that time, Srila Gaura-
kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, in his pastime of blindness, inquired, “Who has come?” The friend of the
landowner introduced his companion by glowingly describing his erudition and devotion and his being
disinterested in material sense gratification despite possessing unlimited wealth. He then described how, only a
fortnight earlier, a thief had come and stolen forty-five thousand rupees from the landlord’s house. Despite
suffering such a setback, the landowner, knowing devotion to be much more significant, had come to obtain
Srila Bdbaji Maharaja’s transcendental darsana. The friend added, “I am his friend. He has left all material
sense gratification and keeps only my association. You will be able to realize his greatness by conversing with
him. He once asked me a question about a confidential exchange between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila
Ramananda Raya found in the Caitanya-caritamrita. I told him that only Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji could
properly answer his question and certainly no one else. We have already been to see many learned persons in
this area, and yet we cannot come to an agreement about the meaning of this conversation. We think that only
you are able to explain it properly.”
After the introduction was complete, Srila Babaji Maharaja replied, “I will tell you a process by which you can
understand the conclusion of this conversation. But before trying to understand these confidential topics
between Lord Caitanya and Ramananda Raya, you should renounce the association of this rascal imposter [the
landowner] and take shelter of a pure devotee of the Lord. You should hear the Caitanya-caritamrita one-
hundred times in the association of authentic devotees of the Lord. In this way, being absorbed in devotional
ecstasy, you will be able to realize the purport of these conversations. At the present moment all the devotees
here want to perform congregational chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord. We don’t have time to discuss any
other topics.” Having thus spoken, Srila Babaji Maharaja very loudly requested that everyone perform hari-
nama-sankirtana. Everyone then began to congregationally chant the Lord’s Holy Name. After hearing the
statement of Babaji Maharaja, the proud landlord and his friend immediately left that place. Later that evening,
when almost everyone had left, some members of the assembly commented to Babaji Maharaja, “That very
learned land-owner was absorbed in devotional ecstasy. We could not see any manifestation of material
consciousness in him. He was devoid of worldly consciousness.”
Another person sitting nearby, who had always heard that Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji was very
straightforward with everyone, inquired, “That person was so immersed in various loving devotional ecstasies
that he could not even walk by his own efforts. How is it that you can say he was not on the highest platform of
bhakti?”
Srila Babaji Maharaja replied, saying, “After speaking with him for a few moments, I could understand that he
had no good intentions in his performance of devotional service. One cannot measure a person’s devotion by the
approval of the general mass. If a person is not serious in his devotional practice, then even if he exhibits the
symptoms of renunciation, non-attachment and various ecstasies, still he should not be considered to have real
renunciation or detachment. As soon as a difficult test comes, his false renunciation will cease. Detachment
seeks out those who are actually fixed in their intention to perform devotional service. When performing
practical devotional service, we should never exhibit our devotional ecstasies. One should perform devotional
service in such a way that his deep attachment to the Lord increases within his heart. Even if one displays
hundreds and hundreds of exhibitions of external attachment, he will not be blessed by the Lord if he does not
develop an internal loving attachment to Him. If one genuinely possesses a deep loving attitude, then Krishna
Himself will approach and claim such an advanced devotee. Whoever is not enticed by the fragrance of
unflinching devotional service and whose heart is filled with material desires will wear different types of
external bodily dress. Krishna is proportionately aloof or available according to the degree of one’s surrender. If
one is deeply immersed in devotional attachment to Lord Hari, then even while suffering distressing diseases or
other material miseries, he will still remain absorbed in transcendental loving service to the Lord. If you can fast
and chant Hare Krishna both day and night, and when you can always cry out with desire for the service of
Vrishabhanu’s Radharani, without revealing it to others, then Sri Krishna, who is very dear to Srimati
Radharani, will call you to take His shelter.”
Srila Prabhupada, strictly following the line of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja’s instructions, never
made any sort of public display of ecstasy, and when his ecstatic emotions occasionally overpowered him, he
would endeavor mightily to bring them in rein. This mood can be compared to that of Daruka, Krishna’s
charioteer, who was once fanning the Lord with a camara (yak-tail whisk). While thus engaged, he became
overwhelmed with ecstatic love for the Lord, and the symptoms became manifest in his body. Srila Prabhupada
comments, “Daruka was so serious about his service that he checked all of these manifestations of ecstatic love
and considered them hindrances to his engagement. He did not care very much for these manifestations,
although they automatically developed.” It is not that when one experiences spiritual ecstasy that he is required
to put it on display for the edification of ordinary persons.
In India it is very common for sahajiyas (those who take spiritual life cheaply) to make an elaborate public
display of their ecstasies. Such displays are pale reflections of spiritual sentiments and are exhibited with
material motives. This was clearly the case with the landlord who approached Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji. In
Vrindavana and Navadvipa it is not at all uncommon that such a person will enter a temple with an assistant, or
even a crowd of followers, and go before the Deity. Seeing the Deity and hearing the kirtana, he begins to dance
wildly, and finally “faints”, and the assistant or group of followers then minister to him with great sympathy and
concern. Thereafter, a curious throng of pilgrims gathers and witnesses the pathetic scene! When a sufficient
crowd has gathered, the great soul “revives” and is assisted with great difficulty beyond the temple confines,
where he hopes some of the unfortunate spectators will agree to become his followers and patrons! As Srila
Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji has demonstrated, the best procedure for dealing with such persons is to neglect them.
9: The Materialist’s Grains

A lawyer named Battacharya came to visit Babaji Maharaja. He was living in the vicinity and had contracted a
certain caste Gosvami on a monthly basis to supply him food. When the lawyer approached Babaji Maharaja, he
was asked, “What arrangement do you have for your foodstuffs?” The lawyer replied, “I have arranged to
receive my foodstuffs in the house of certain Vaishnavas and brahmanas.”
Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji then answered, “Give up eating their cooked rice. You should cook for yourself
and eat that. Those persons from whom you are accepting food grains eat meat and maintain their service to
Lord Caitanya in devious ways. Their activities are most offensive because they know that what they are doing
is wrong. Those persons who have no fear of an offense they create to the Supreme Lord should never even be
spoken to, otherwise, devotional service will be destroyed.”
Some time later, the lawyer brought several sweets and offered them to Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu. He
prayerfully requested Babaji Maharaja to accept his offering. Srila Babaji Maharaja then told him, “I never
accept sweets.” Bhattacharya replied, “There is nothing higher than accepting food that the Lord has directly
accepted.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja sharply retorted, “Whoever eats fish is like a prostitute. If someone has perverted desires
and offers foodstuffs to Lord Caitanya, those preparations can never be accepted as the prasada of the Supreme
Lord, because the Lord does not partake of them. Whoever is not a sincere devotee of the Lord cannot
understand what a non-devotee is. Even if one offers foodstuffs to the Supreme Lord, if one has perverted
intentions, then that offering is never accepted. If one offers the covering of the banana flowers because he likes
the taste himself, the offering is not accepted by the Supreme Lord. To offer foodstuffs to the Supreme Lord
that have been contaminated by one’s lusty desires should be considered a great offense. If preparations favored
by the great devotees of the Lord are offered, then the offering is considered proper. Krishna tastes foodstuffs
that have been tasted by the lips of His pure devotees. If one accepts the grains of a sinful person, then his mind
becomes impure. One should think, ‘My worship to the Lord has not fructified yet-how can I obtain the service
of a pure devotee of the Lord? In this way, with a heart full of grief, if one takes banana peels and the discarded
skin of an eggplant and boils them without salt, [and offers them] this attitude of full surrender will cause those
foodstuffs to become maha-prasada. One should think, ‘My worship to the Lord has not yet manifested-the pure
devotee of the Lord accepts nice foodstuffs, but my doing so would only impede my devotion. What will
happen to me if I continue eating sumptuously and wearing luxurious clothes?’“
Thus one is directed by Babaji Maharaja not to accept food cooked by lustful persons, especially by those who
know the actual standard of behaviour expected of devotees of Sri Krishna but who nevertheless indulge in
illicit activities. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami as follows: “When one
eats food offered by a materialistic man, one’s mind becomes contaminated, and when the mind becomes
contaminated, one is unable to think of Krishna properly. When one accepts an invitation from a person
contaminated by the material mode of passion, the person who offers the food and the person who accepts it are
both mentally contaminated.” (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya-lila 6.278-279) In the purport to the first of these
verses Srila Prabhupada cites Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s commentary, saying, “...people who are
materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaishnavas who take everything very casually, are both
visayi, materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination,
even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man. There are six kinds of association-giving charity,
accepting charity, accepting food, offering food, talking confidentially and inquiring confidentially. One should
very carefully a void associating with both the sahajiyas, who are sometimes known as Vaishnavas, and the
non-Vaishnavas, or avaishnavas. Their association changes the transcendental devotional service of Lord
Krishna into sense gratification, and when sense gratification enters the mind of a devotee, he is contaminated.
The materialistic person who aspires after sense gratification cannot properly think of Krishna.”
Aside from avoiding food prepared by sensualists, one should also take care not eat simply for the satisfaction
of one’s tongue. In the Caitanya-caritamrita (Antya 6.227) it is stated:
jihvara lalase yei iti-uti dhaya
sisnodara-parayana krishna nahi paya
‘That person who runs here and there seeking to gratify his palate and who is always attached to the desires of
his stomach and genitals is unable to attain Krishna.’
Srila Jagadananda Pandita and Lord Caitanya have both instructed those serious about spiritual advancement to
avoid dressing very nicely or taking very palatable foodstuffs. Lord Caitanya has stated, bhala na khaibe ara
bhala na paribe: “Do not dress luxuriously and do not eat delicious foodstuffs.” (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya
6.236) Srila Jagadananda Pandita has instructed, echoing the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, bhala na
khaibe ara bhala na paribea hridayete radha-krishna sarvada sevibe: “Do not eat luxurious dishes or dress in fine
garments, but always remain humble and serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Krishna in your heart of hearts.”
(Prema-vivarta, Chapter Seven)
Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja instructs us to think that our devotion is not pure and that only pure
devotees can safely accept delicious maha-prasada, and to thus always eat frugally. He suggests that if one
prepares something not generally considered edible (e.g. banana peels and the skin of eggplants boiled with salt)
but offers it with genuine humility, then it will certainly be transformed into maha-prasada by the Lord’s
accepting it.
10: The Love of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji for Sri Mayapura-Dhama

Srila Babaji Maharaja exhibited an unmatched, uncompromising spirit toward anything opposing the real
conclusions of bhakti. He was above all mundane thought and one cannot possibly understand why he acted as
he did unless one rigidly follows in the footsteps of the Paramahamsa devotees of the Lord. Thus we should not
be surprised that some persons who had his audience hundreds of times were never blessed with his special
grace, while others received his mercy at once.
One day a householder devotee from Mayapura went to Kuliya to get the association of Srila Babaji Maharaja.
The Paramahamsa was seated in a chair made of reeds just within the door of his ‘ kutira, or cottage. When the
grihastha approached him, Srila Gaura-kisora nonchalantly closed the door. At that, the devotee informed an
attendant of Srila Babaji Maharaja’s that he wished to see him. Babaji Maharaja replied, “If he wants to have
my darsana, then he must give two rupees.” The attendant received the money from the grihastha and duly
informed Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji. Babaji Maharaja then opened the door of the kutira and said, “Please
have a look.” The grihastha remained some distance away from the kutira and respectfully offered his prostrated
obeisances. But by his own sweet voice, Srila Babaji Maharaja drew him closer, affectionately took his hands
within his and said, “You have come from Mayapura, the place where my Supreme Master, Sri Krishna
Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has sent you here, so therefore I have a few
words to say to you. Sri Caitanya will certainly listen to this: you should take shelter of Krishna by always
chanting His holy name. There will then be no more obstructions in your life.”
Whenever Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja saw the residents of Sri Mayapura, he would always show
some special favor and with affection say, “The residents of the Holy Dhama.” It was always seen that even if
someone tried to offer great wealth he would personally remain indifferent. But then again he would request
different persons to help him by giving him money and other paraphernalia for his service to the Lord’s
devotees resident in the Dhama.
One who takes birth in the Lord’s Dhamas is understood to have done so as a result of attaining to a high
standard of devotion to the Lord. To take such a birth is an indication that one is practically qualified to be a
resident of the spiritual world, and thus his good fortune and good qualities are incalculable. Although such
residents may externally appear to be conditioned souls, they are nevertheless spontaneously attracted to the
Lord. Even if they perform impious activities within the boundaries of the Dhama, they are not to be adjudged
ordinary conditioned souls. Srila Prabhupada has explained that even if someone comes to Vrindavana or
Mayapura from outside the Dhama, lives and dies there, but performs sinful activities there, still he will have to
take only one birth more as an animal. After that birth he is promoted to the spiritual world. He comments, “...
devotees like the gosvamis living in Vrindavana who purposely commit some sinful activities are born in the
bodies of dogs, monkeys and tortoises in that holy land. Thus they take on these lower life forms for a short
while, and after they give up those animal bodies, they are again promoted to the spiritual world. Such
punishment is only for a short period, and it is not due to past karma... “ Bhag. 5.8.26 purport.
Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji was fully aware of the unique status of the Dhama-vasis (residents of the
Dhama), and thus he gave them special consideration and respect. Babaji Maharaja further teaches us that it is
better not to accept charity for maintaining one’s own comforts and personal convenience, though one can
enthusiastically do so in order to serve Vaishnavas.
11: Displaying Ecstatic Symptoms

On one occasion Srila Babaji Maharaja was sitting within his bhajana-kutira in Sri Navadvipa-Dhama, loudly
chanting Hare Krishna. Other persons who had assembled there were also chanting. At this time, someone came
and began to display different ecstatic symptoms, such as crying. Some of the assembled devotees thought, “Lo,
that person has attained the highest stage of devotional ecstasy by chanting the glories of the Lord.” Srila
Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji, however, immediately requested the man to leave. Some of the onlookers became
disturbed by this and left. Babaji Maharaja commented, “One who has actually attained love of Godhead will
never display the symptoms thereof but will keep them hidden from the general populace. A chaste wife
becomes very embarrassed when she has to show any part of her body in public, and she thus keeps her body
thoroughly covered. In the same way, when one has real devotion for the Supreme Lord and becomes elevated
to love of Godhead, he always feels embarrassed to exhibit symptoms of ecstasy and always keeps such
symptoms hidden.”
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated this principle on numerous occasions. Upon meeting Srila Ramananda
Raya by the banks of the Godavari, for example, He embraced him and felt so much ecstasy that, along with
Ramananda, He was overwhelmed with spiritual emotion. However, in consideration of the fact that
Ramananda Raya was the Governor of Madras and was accompanied by many persons who could not
understand such transcendental dealings, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu restrained Himself. On another occasion,
when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met with Vallabhacarya near Prayaga, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic
feelings, but He again restrained Himself, feeling bashful in the presence of a person who, though exalted, was
not His intimate associate. “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt great ecstatic love when they began discussing
Krishna, but the Lord checked His feelings because He felt shy before Vallabha Bhatta. Although the Lord
restrained Himself externally, ecstatic love raged within. There was no checking that. Vallabha Bhatta was
astonished to detect this.”
12: The Sharp Words of the Sadhu

Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja always gave beneficial instructions to persons who approached him
with faith and humility, no matter what their spiritual status. On one such occasion a seeker went to Babaji
Maharaja to hear topics concerning the Supreme Lord, but he heard some harsh words from him instead. The
seeker therefore resolved to never go near Babaji Maharaja again. After some time, however, having been
stricken with a distressed and troubled mind, he suddenly returned to see Babaji Maharaja. Srila Babaji
Maharaja, instantly realizing the reason for his depression, told him, “Oh, you have left the association of
devotees where topics about Krishna are discussed, and now you are living in a secluded place and performing
solitary worship of Krishna. When one hears the topics of the Supreme Lord in the company of devotees, then
one becomes freed from Maya’s net of illusion. But if one performs worship of the Lord in a secluded place, not
in association with devotees, one becomes caught by the illusory energy. As a consequence, instead of topics
about the Supreme Lord possessing the heart, mundane subject matters will occupy it instead.”
The seeker replied, “I thought it better to reside in a secluded place and perform my own individual worship
than to become disturbed by hearing the sharp words of a sadhu.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja replied, “Please take note that those sadhus who speak sharp words to drive away the
witch of the illusory energy are actually the only real devotees of Krishna and friends of the living entities. The
conditioned living being experiences the distressful quarreling of his wife and close relatives and is rudely
treated by them until death, yet he never desires to leave their association. On the other hand, he absorbs himself
in trying to appease and serve them. But when a devotee of the Lord, who is always desirous of the living
entity’s ultimate welfare, chides him just once with instructions meant to drive away Maya, then that
conditioned entity immediately makes plans to leave the saintly person for his entire life. If you actually want to
perform devotional service properly, then you must accept the harsh language of the sadhu as the medicine by
which Maya can be given up. By this one can obtain the necessary spiritual advancement to successfully chant
the Holy Name.”
The bound souls are prepared to accept unlimited abuse from their family members, but not a single sharp word
from the sadhu who attempts to cut their attachment to illusory existence. The materialistic wife and family
members induce a man to work like an ass and meanwhile deride him for not fulfilling all of their demands.
Yet, while the family may legitimately plunder a man and denounce him bitterly for his shortcomings, the
acquiescent victim is not in the least able to tolerate words which might awaken him to the reality of his
situation. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura described the power of the sadhu in an essay called Search
For Truth as follows: “There is no doubt that the words of the sadhu possess the power of destroying the evil
propensities of one’s mind. The sadhus in this way benefit everyone who associates with them.’ There are many
things which we do not disclose to the sadhu. The real sadhu makes us speak out what we keep concealed in our
hearts. He then applies the knife. The very word ‘sadhu’ has no meaning other than this. He stands in front of
the block with the uplifted sacrificial knife in his hand. The sensuous desires of men are like goats. The sadhu
stands there to kill those desires by the merciful stroke of the keen edge of the sacrificial knife in the form of
unpleasant language. If the sadhu turns into my flatterer then he does me harm, he becomes my enemy. If he
gives us flattery, then we are led to the road that brings enjoyment but no real well-being.”
Without the association of devotees, one will almost certainly be overwhelmed by the illusory energy and his
thoughts will naturally turn to gratifying his senses. During the discussions between Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
and Ramananda Raya, Lord Caitanya inquired, “Out of all auspicious and beneficial activities, which is best for
the living entity?” Ramananda Raya replied, “The only auspicious activity is association with the devotees of
Krishna. “ And in the Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.30 it is stated, “We are asking the most perfect welfare activity
from you. I think that in this material world, association with devotees-even if it be for a moment-is the greatest
treasure house for mankind.” The importance of materially conditioned devotees associating with saintly
persons has thus been stressed by all the Vaishnava authorities, even those who seemed to shun the company of
others in order to prosecute their solitary worship. Although it is a fact that great Paramahamsas like Srila
Madhavendra Puri performed such solitary worship in complete purity, this cannot be imitated by neophytes.
13: The Householders’ Vow

A newly-married devotee and his wife once went to pray for the mercy of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji.
Babaji Maharaja instructed the husband, saying, “If you actually want to perform devotional service, then you
must live separately from your wife and thus, not depending on one another, chant the glories of the Lord.”
After hearing these instructions the newly-weds did as they were advised. A few days passed, and that devotee
came again to Babaji Maharaja, who then asked, “Are you and your wife taking your foodstuffs together or
separately?” The husband told him, “We are living separately and carrying on our worship as you instructed,
but we take our foodstuffs together.”
Babaji Maharaja then inquired, “What did you have today?”
The newly wed man answered, “We had very nice vegetables, the best dahl and fried eggplant.”
Babaji Maharaja then explained, “If you only give up the external connection with your wife, that is not
sufficient, because you are associating with her within. You have not been able to give up the finest foodstuffs
prepared by your wife, so how will you be able to worship the Lord? Your wife is communicating with you
through the medium of what she has cooked. Shame, shame! Even though you are acting as if you are chanting
the Lord’s Holy Name, still you are desiring the stems of the finest vegetables. Do you think that after someone
suffers a loss of one lakh of rupees, he will be satisfied accepting only a handful of rice? Although he may
gradually become accustomed to accepting the rice as a daily practice, still he will always think of the money he
has lost. Even if one were to give such a person the most delicious foodstuffs, because he will always be
anxious about what he has lost, he will not be able to put the longing for it from his heart. You have lost that
which is invaluable-your devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Thus, how can you become absorbed in
eating such nice foodstuffs? As for your wife, externally you are disassociated from her, yet you are
maintaining attachment within.”
Householders may feel intimidated by Babaji Maharaja’s uncompromising judgment of the abovementioned
marriage. Fortunately, he gave other instructions that resolve the problem of the material attachment that
inevitably arises within a marriage. These instructions are dealt with below.
14: Renunciation for Krishna’s Pleasure and False Renunciation

A married man present during Babaji Maharaja’s conversation with the newly wedded husband inquired from
the Paramahamsa as follows, “We see that there are many Vaishnavas living with their wives who perform
devotional service to Lord Hari. Will any benefit accrue to such persons?”
Srila Babaji Maharaja replied, “The living entity is the eternal servant of Lord Krishna. But when the
conditioned soul looks upon his wife and sons he simply sees their material forms. If one does not have the eye
of devotion one can never perceive his real identity as the eternal servant of Krishna. The bound souls always
have the inclination to enjoy their wives and children. These days the living entities do not like to hear the
topics of the Supreme Lord or to get the association of the Lord’s devotees. If one does not attain the spiritual
energy given by the chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord, then one will become attracted by his wife and
offspring.
“Then again, some persons feign detachment from their wives, children and sense pleasures. This kind of
external renunciation is like the renunciation of monkeys [who are not actually renounced, although they
apparently eschew clothing, proper shelter, and the other trappings of sensory emolument]. The abnegation of
the monkey-like renunciates [markata-vairagis] is simply a pretence. The genuine Vaishnava will never
maintain an attitude of sense gratification towards his wife; rather, he will always regard himself as the servant
of Krishna and the bona fide guru. Those actually desirous of performing hari-bhajana, but in whose hearts the
weeds of material desires grow, and who are unable to give up excessive attachment to wife and children,
should also come and hear from the pure devotees, chant Hare Krishna, and perform congregational chanting. In
this way, they can quickly become detached from the inclination to enjoy their wives and children. They will
gradually realize that if one completely surrenders to Krishna, then one will attain all auspiciousness. As long as
one remains in bodily consciousness, one cannot obtain the mercy of Lord Krishna. The extension of bodily
consciousness is seen in the affection displayed for one’s wife and offspring. And yet, one who leaves the
association of his wife because of being thoroughly distressed in mind and continues to seek happiness for his
own mind and body is not a real renunciate. The distinctive feature of the renunciation of the devotee of Krishna
is its not being diverted from Him in any way. A real renunciate accepts whatever is favorable for the Lord’s
satisfaction and rejects whatever is unfavorable.”
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu described the alternative to monkey-like renunciation to Raghunatha dasa Gosvami as
follows:
markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja’ anasakta hana
“You should not make yourself a show bottle devotee and become a false renunciate [markata-vairagi]. For the
time being, enjoy the material world in a befitting way and do not become attached to it.” (Caitanya-caritamrita
Madhya-lila 16.238)
In his commentary on the above verse Srila Prabhupada states, “The word markata-vairagya, indicating false
renunciation, is very important in this verse. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in commenting on this
word, points out that monkeys make an external show of renunciation by not accepting clothing and by living
naked in the forest. In this way they consider themselves renunciates, but actually they are very busy enjoying
sense gratification with dozens of female monkeys. Such renunciation is called markata-vairagya-the
renunciation of a monkey. One cannot be really renounced until one actually becomes disgusted with material
activity and sees it as a stumbling block to spiritual advancement. Renunciation should not be phalgu,
temporary, but should exist throughout one’s life. Temporary renunciation, or monkey renunciation, is like the
renunciation one feels at a cremation ground. When a man takes a dead body to the crematorium, he sometimes
thinks, ‘This is the final end of the body. Why am I working so hard day and night? Such sentiments naturally
arise in the mind of any man who goes to a crematorial ghata. However, as soon as he returns from the
cremation grounds, he again engages in material activity for sense enjoyment. This is called samasana-vairagya,
or markata-vairagya ... The word markata-vairagya is used by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to indicate so-called
Vaishnavas who dress themselves in loincloths trying to imitate Srila Rupa Gosvami. Such people carry a bead
bag and chant [Hare Krishna], but at heart they are always thinking about getting women and money. Unknown
to others, these markata-vairagis maintain women but externally present themselves as renunciates. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu was very much opposed to these markata-vairagis, or pseudo-Vaishnavas.
15: That is the Highest Happiness

Someone once observed a follower of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja begging alms at noon in the hot
summer sun, during the month of Caitra (April-May). Approaching Babaji Maharaja, he asked him, “Why is
your servant begging in the hot sun? Everyone begs in the morning, and they then return to their residences.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja told him, “Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has instructed his followers:
tomara sevaya, duhkha hoya jato,
sei to’ parama sukha
seva-sukha-duhkha, parama sampada,
nasaye avidya-duhkha
‘Troubles encountered in Your service shall be the cause of great happiness, for in Your devotional service joy
and sorrow are equally great riches. Both destroy the misery of ignorance.’ ” (Saranagati 8.4)
Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji has given this instruction to those who, desiring real benefit, always take shelter
of the Supreme Master, Sri Krishna, and the devotees of the Lord. One must tolerate the distress that assails one
as one practices devotional service in this unhappy world. In this way, the dualistic sufferings which appear in
the form of happiness and distress will diminish. As long as one renders service unto the Lord in order to
achieve a comfortable material situation he cannot become free from the bondage of ignorance.
16: The Different Forms of Maya

Once, during the rainy season, Srila Babaji Maharaja left his kutira and dwelt under the porch of a dharmasala
in Navadvipa. Rice prasada was kept there for him on a hanging rope shelf. A poisonous snake slithered down
the wall with the help of the rope shelf, took note of the aroma of
The prasada and started to move away. Seeing the snake, an old woman came running, crying, “A snake is
about to bite you!”
Srila Babaji Maharaja, who was blind, beat the ground with his hand and then asked, “Where is the snake?
Where is the snake?” In the meantime the serpent disappeared.
The old woman exclaimed, “Oh Babaji Maharaja, have you gone mad? That snake could have bitten you. He
has just disappeared by your right side. Had you extended your right hand a fraction more to the side, you
would have been bitten for sure. We cannot allow you to stay here.”
Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja told her, “Mother, you have inconvenienced yourself by standing here so long.
You must be tired. Please don’t stand here any longer.”
The woman replied with determination, “I shall not leave this place until you go into your room.”
Babaji Maharaja replied, “I am going to accept prasada now. First, I will take prasada, and then I will go into
my room.”
The old woman continued to admonish him, saying, “That prasada may have been touched by the lips of the
snake. You cannot accept it because if it is poisonous you will die. I will bring fresh prasada for you.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja then firmly stated, “I only accept prasada that has been offered to the Deity or which I
have obtained through begging, and not otherwise. I do not take food offered by materialistic people.”
Turning to one of Babaji Maharaja’s attendants, the old woman asked, “Will you please arrange for more rice
for Babaji Maharaja.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja then spoke more firmly, saying, “My dear Mother, if you do not leave this place, I shall
not listen to anything else you have to say.” Feeling rejected, the woman left. After some time, the Babaji asked
the attendant if she had gone. Being answered in the affirmative, he remarked, “Did you see that, how Maya is
acting? How, under the pretension of sympathy, she tries to gain control, how she tries to gradually enter in
various deceptive ways. Maya takes on various forms. She knows many tricks to cause the living entity to give
up the worship of the Lord. Under different pretensions, she tried to make me enter my room, not accept
prasada and so forth. She never lets the living entity serve the Supreme Lord.” Then the Paramahamsa began to
loudly sing the following song by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura:

gaura pahu na bhajiya goinu

prema-ratana-dhana helaya harainu
adhane yatana kari dhana teyaginu
apana karama-doshe apani dubinu
sat-sanga chadi’ kainu asate vilasa
te-karane lagilo ye karma-bandha-phansa
vishaya-vishama-visha satata khainu
gaura-kirtana-rase magana na hainu
keno va achaye prana ki sukha paiya
narottam das keno na gelo mariya

“Not having worshipped the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga, I have met only ruin. I have lost the jewel of love of
Godhead due to my own negligence. I have only given attention to that which is not real wealth and abandoned
that which has actual value. I have sunk within the material world by the reactions of my own karma. Having
left real association, I am performing materialistic activities. I have thus become conditioned by the grasp of
past karma. I have tasted the poison of material sense gratification over and over again.
For this reason, I have not become absorbed in the nectar of the congregational chanting of Lord Hari. Why do I
remain alive? What is my happiness? Why hasn’t Narottama dasa given up his life?”
The Paramahamsa Babaji considered that the snake and the argumentative old woman were agents of the
illusory potency come to test his determination to serve the Lord according to his strict standard. Of course,
such a Vaishnava as Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was never subject to material tendencies of any sort. It
was out of humility that he thought himself liable to be seduced by Maya. If a devotee such as he thought thus,
how much should we, who simply aspire for spiritual advancement, not knowing when we shall achieve our
goal?
Srila Gaura-kisora Dasa Babaji and the Supersoul
One night, at about ten o’clock, Srila Babaji Maharaja suddenly awoke, crying, “Did you see that? Did you see
that? That lecturer has gone to the district of Pavana, and at night he has had illicit sex with a widow there.
Shame! Shame! These evildoers, by their vile activities, have scandalized the name of religion.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja uttered these statements as though he were directly witnessing everything. He continued,
saying, “Mahaprabhu has let me know the truth about this so-called scholar, who travels from place to place:
advertising himself as very learned. In the name of giving Srimad-Bhagavatam class he collects money to
support himself. The common people do not know his real nature. He always keeps a widow with him. When
anyone asks him about her, he passes her off as his wife. Whatever money he earns he spends to purchase
expensive items for her. Is there anyone who is more of an offender and a hypocrite than this person?”
The opulence of omniscience was bestowed upon the Paramahamsa for the purpose of unmasking rascals and
hypocrites. Such incidents evidence the fact that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was directing Srila Gaura-kisora
dasa Babaji Maharaja to expose the various forms of deception and hypocrisy that exist in the name of spiritual
life. We are fortunate that he acted thus, for if he had not identified the cheaters around him his own character
might not have shone forth as resplendently as it did.
17: General Instructions

Once, Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji wrapped his body and feet with a cloth. Sitting covered like this he said,
“Many persons, after being informed by others that I am a Vaishnava, come here to collect the dust from my
feet. I tell them, ‘I am not a Vaishnava. If you go where there are Vaishnavas with their feet pretentiously
decorated and extended to be touched, then you can get unlimited dust.’ “
At this time a person named Bhattacharya came from Vrindavana with his female companion to see Srila Babaji
Maharaja. Approaching him, he said, “You are my spiritual master. Please be merciful to me.” Babaji Maharaja
replied, saying, “I have nothing. I have no rasagullas, sandesa, luci, puris, money, sweet rice or sweet words.
How can I bless you? Those spiritual masters who can feed their disciples many sweets are praised as the most
advanced. Nowadays such a person is qualified to become a spiritual master. Presently, the learned section
defines the word anukula [favorable] as ‘receiving wealth, a beautiful wife or sweet words.’ ”
Bhattacharya then remarked, “We have many misconceptions. Whatever you instruct, that we will do.”
Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja then instructed him, “I can see what is most favorable for you. You
should eat rice that has been soaked in water and sit on a grass seat. You should eat food that not even a dog
would accept. You should wear clothes that even a thief would not steal. You must remain in the association of
devotees and always chant the Holy Name of the Lord. By imitating the activities of one who is very renounced,
one resembles a monkey. Monkeys sit in one place and remain quiet, but when they get the opportunity they
steal something. As long as one acts like a monkey, then his devotional service will never become fixed.”
Babaji Maharaja thus instructed Bhattacarya with respect to his actual position, and responded to his insincere
plea for instruction by giving him orders that a monkey-like renunciate could never follow. The humorous
description of so-called spiritual masters given by Babaji Maharaja aptly describes a category of guru that
people keep as a pet for fulfilling their material desires. Though speaking for Bhattacharya’s benefit, it is clear
that the man was not sincere enough to actually hear the instructive words of a bona fide guru.
18: Ashta-kaliya-lila

A so-called Gosvami approached Srila Babaji Maharaja to learn the intimate pastimes of the Lord called ashta-
kaliya-lila (‘pastimes pertaining to eight times of the day’). The first time he came, Srila Babaji Maharaja told
him, “Just now I don’t have any leisure time. When I find the opportunity, I will explain it to you.” As many
times as the so-called Gosvami came, he received the same answer. Finally, the Gosvami became disappointed
and stopped coming. Some time later the Paramahamsa remarked, “A person who becomes distressed at the loss
of a useless coin cannot possibly learn the most intimate pastimes of the Lord. Just by reading a book about the
ashta-kaliya-lila, real understanding will not develop. One may theoretically understand it, but where will his
spiritual body [for assisting the Lord in such pastimes] come from? The attempt to reveal the Lord’s pastimes in
ordinary literature has created havoc. When such things are written in ordinary books, such literature simply
adds to a rubbish pile which is already heaped high. Everyone is building a high wooden platform, two stories
high. Then, after climbing to the top of the platform, they simply pass stool. So many people come to see me,
but none of them are genuine. Before they can understand ashta-kaliya-lila, they will have to give up bad
association and continuously chant the Holy Name in the association of devotees. If they attempt to whimsically
perform solitary worship, they will be snared by the illusory energy. The name, form, quality and pastimes of
the Lord are manifested within the association of the devotees. Wretched persons who do not have full faith in
the chanting of the Holy Name are creating an inauspicious situation for themselves by separately attempting to
understand such things. Their attempt to worship the Lord is undertaken without proper intelligence.”
Babaji Maharaja hereby declares that such esoteric subjects ashta-kaliya-lila, siddha-deha (spiritual body), etc.
are not appropriate subjects for discussion with neophyte devotees. Those who have at least attained to the
platform of asakti-bhakti, where genuine attachment to Sri Krishna arises, may indeed relish and discuss these
topics, having achieved a standard of realization which make such discussion relevant, but those of lesser
attainments are expected to restrict themselves to the reverential glorification of the Lord in the association of
devotees. By dint of that process the spiritual body, siddha-deha, the Lord’s pastimes, form, etc. are all revealed
at the appropriate time.
19: An Unusual Bhajana-kutira

On another occasion Srila Babaji Maharaja remarked, “It is not possible to properly worship the Supreme Lord
in an outhouse.”
Having made this remark, he saw that the people in his vicinity could not grasp his meaning, and so he
explained, “A house where persons always indulge in eating and sensual pleasure is not a place for sadhus. Such
places may appear to be asramas or temples, but they are the abodes of lust. Sensual life may be permissible for
the demigods, but not for devotees of the Lord. Materialistic persons who live in this way imagine they are
residing in heaven, but they actually live in a deep pool of excrement in the form of the sense objects of the
material world. However, when those who seriously worship the Supreme Lord take full shelter of Him,
wherever they reside becomes non-different to Sri Radha-kunda [the supremely holy pond of Sri Radha].”
A few days after these remarks were made the proprietor of a Navadvipa dharmasala named Mr. Girish,
accompanied by his wife, came to see Babaji Maharaja. The proprietor’s wife very humbly requested Babaji
Maharaja to allow them to build a bhajana-kutira (a small cottage for worship) for him. They remarked that
during the rainy and cold seasons he was undergoing extreme hardship in the thatched cottage where he was
then residing. Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja replied, “No, I am not experiencing even the slightest hardship.
But there is one thing which causes me difficulty. If you will agree to help me, then I will tell you what it is.”
The couple expressed their eagerness, and so he continued, “Many people come to me with selfish motives.
They do not desire their real welfare, and they simply create a disturbance to my bhajana. If you can give me
your latrine, it will serve as a favorable place for my chanting the Holy Name of the Lord. There I shall be able
to worship the Holy Name without disturbance. People will hate to go there. If you cannot do this, then do not
disturb me and make me waste this human form of life.”
On hearing this, Mr. Girish’s wife exclaimed, “Oh, most revered Babaji, we are prepared to obey your
command. But if we let a saint live in our privy, it will be a great sin for us.”
Babaji Maharaja replied, “I am not a saint. Those who are pujaris where the temple Deities are worshipped, or
others who keep matted hair and wear tree bark are saints. I am unable to worship the Lord in a proper way, so a
privy is the right place for me. If you can oblige me in this way, then say so, otherwise I shall not listen to you
any longer.”
Having no other alternative, Girish and his wife agreed to the proposal and said, “Even if you do not utilize the
room adjoining the privy, there will be two chambers there for those who serve you.” Girish had the exterior of
the privy renovated by masons and the interior thoroughly cleansed. Otherwise, the inner structure was left
unchanged for fear that the Babaji would be displeased. Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja stayed in the
public latrine of a dharmasala to teach people in general that attachment to material affairs under the pretense of
devotion, is more foul-smelling than excreta.
20: Unlawful Imitation and Wickedness

There was no space in the latrine to accommodate more than one person. Babaji Maharaja used to bolt the door
from the inside and chant the Holy Name of the Lord. Adjoining the privy was a dilapidated chamber. A man
named Madhu moved into that room, had the roof repaired with tin and began to chant in imitation of Babaji
Maharaja. One day, Babaji Maharaja called out to him, saying, “What are you doing and what are you
contemplating in that room with the door closed? What are you thinking about in your secluded state? He who
does not chant the Holy Name of Hari in the association of devotees, free from offense, is not in a position to
see anything but the four walls of a room. Are you seeing the surroundings? Are you thinking about desirable
women, fame or material gain? If you remain in that room, then different kinds of rubbish thoughts will assail
you:”
Srila Gaura-kisora, although physically blind, then demonstrated his capacity for seeing by disclosing Madhu’s
hypocrisy. He informed the hypocrite that he was cognizant of all of his “secret” acts: how he had stolen the
money and food which was left for Babaji Maharaja by others, and how he had gone to various places in
Navadvipa to indulge in illicit intercourse with women. Eventually, this imitator became the victim of a serious
disease. He became so ill that after a few days his friends had to come and carry him away to his house. It has
thus been demonstrated how, as a result of offenses committed by the imitation of a Maha-bhagavata, one
eventually falls down. He taught how worldly people, under the pretense of religious activities, experience only
the seeming pleasure of sense gratification, which is compared to living in stool. Srila Babaji Maharaja
displayed these pastimes with a view to instructing his followers.
21: Desire for Scholarship

A brahmacari named Ayatra Punya approached Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji and requested him to allow him
to perform bhajana in his association. Srila Babaji Maharaja advised him, “You should desist from committing
offenses at the lotus feet of Vaishnavas and engage yourself in chanting the Holy Name in the association of
pure devotees.” The brahmacari heard this instruction but was disinclined to follow it. Without informing
Babaji Maharaja, he went to Radhadesh and introduced himself there as a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura and begged money, saying that it was for getting instruction in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Upon returning, he began to study grammar with a learned scholar. He thought that if he could become literate,
then he would be respected. He considered that because Srila Babaji Maharaja was illiterate he could not be
very advanced. One day he visited Babaji Maharaja and was told, “You are studying grammar in order to get
women and material position.” Hearing this, Ayatra replied that he had no such evil desires, but he simply
wanted to learn grammar so that he could understand the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Srila Babaji Maharaja attempted to help him again and told him, “You have been to West Bengal and saw how
reciters of the Puranas make their living by reciting the Bhagavatam. Therefore, you have become greedy and
want to fill your begging bowl. If you desire your actual welfare, give up your offensive greed and engage
yourself sincerely in worshipping the Lord.” The foolish brahmacari once again ignored the good advice of
Babaji Maharaja.
On yet another occasion the brahmacari came to Babaji Maharaja and prayed, “Please be merciful to me.” Srila
Babaji Maharaja was silent for some time, and then he said, “You are thinking of earning your livelihood. Do
not try to fulfill your desires in that way.” No one present at the time could understand to what Babaji Maharaja
referred. When the would-be reciter left, Babaji Maharaja told those present, “He is having illicit intercourse
with a widow.” He then instructed everyone there for their benefit, saying, “Do not persuade others to commit
sinful activities, and if desires other than devotional service arise in your minds, please come to me before
acting and allow your minds to be changed.”
By this instruction Srila Babaji Maharaja indicated that illicit sex is the most abominable and forbidden act. He
who externally behaves like a sadhu, but secretly has illicit intercourse, commits an even more heinous sin.
22: Devotion and Hypocrisy

A certain Damodara dasa came to live with Babaji Maharaja for some time. For this, he gained some respect
from the local people. He had originally come from Orissa where he had formerly been married. Once, his
former father-in-law came to visit him. The father-in-law was accustomed to go from place to place with a
manuscript of Srimad-Bhagavatam in his hand, reciting it as a means of earning his livelihood. Babaji Maharaja
had permitted Damodara dasa to collect substantial donations from the pilgrims who visited him. Without
informing Babaji Maharaja, Damodara dasa gave a certain portion of the collection to his father-in-law. The
omniscient Babaji came to know of it, and he stopped talking to Damodara dasa. Prior to this incident,
Damodara dasa had occasionally been allowed to boil rice for Maharaja, but after the theft, Babaji Maharaja
stopped eating anything touched by him. He reverted to his practice of eating rice soaked in water. Realizing he
had been discovered, the Orissan became terrified, and other associates of Babaji Maharaja became disturbed.
The Orissan began to fast from all food and water. When Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji was informed of this,
he said, “If this worldly person does not leave me immediately, then I will give up my life by drowning in the
River Ganges.” Shortly thereafter, Babaji Maharaja plunged into the waters of the holy river. Seeing this, the
people who were on the scene immediately went to his rescue. He shouted at them, “Leave me alone. Don’t
touch me. If I cannot perform hari-bhajana, then I will not bear this body any more.” The people insisted on
rescuing him however. When he was revived and made comfortable, he asked the people, “Why did you take
me from the Ganges? This Orissan has given away all that I have to his father.” Hearing this, the people told
him they would replace whatever he had lost. They would give him four times what the Orissan had given his
father and were prepared to bring the money immediately.
Srila Babaji Maharaja told them, “I don’t need the money, but I refuse to keep this Orissan in my association. If
I live with a hypocrite, then my bhajana will be hindered.” Many of the people had thought that the Babaji had
wanted to drown himself due to his attachment to money. Now, however, they could understand the truth: he
was not attached to money, but he could not tolerate hypocrisy in the name of service. Hypocrisy or deceit is the
sole province of Krishna. Only He can exhibit it without sinful reaction. When an ordinary person practices
deceit, it is an unlawful imitation of the Lord.
23: The Enjoying Spirit of the Materialist

Once, Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu gave one hundred rupees to Srila Sarasvati Thakura for safekeeping. In order
to keep it secure, Srila Prabhupada deposited the money in a bank. One day, in his absence, Srila Babaji
Maharaja suddenly came to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and requested him for the money. The Thakura
informed the Babaji that Sarasvati Thakura has deposited the money in the bank, and in his absence it could not
be withdrawn. Babaji Maharaja declared that he needed the money urgently and insisted on having it at once.
Seeing no other alternative, the Thakura took the money from his own pocket and paid him. The Babaji sent
that money to a well-known person in Vrindavana, and having sent it, he remarked, “Considering me a
Vaishnava, people have given me money for my enjoyment, but I am not a Vaishnava. There are Vaishnavas at
Vraja. I have sent the money for their service.”
Whatever money the people had given him in the consideration that he was a great Vaishnava, the Babaji had
kept, but not for his personal enjoyment. He always utilized any funds he collected in the service of other
Vaishnavas. The Babaji said, “Things which are obtained by madhukari [begging, i.e. going from place to place
for sustenance like a bee] are transcendental. One should eat what is necessary for sustaining his worship of
Hari. If one accepts more than he needs, his heart will become contaminated and an obstruction will arise in his
worship of Lord Hari.”
24: In the Hope of Acquiring Wealth

One day, Govinda Gosvami of Kuliya, Navadvipa, accompanied by a person in the garb of a Vaishnava ascetic,
came to Babaji Maharaja and said, “Babaji, I have been abroad and have thus not been able to have your
darsana for a long time.” Srila Babaji Maharaja said, “For your bhajana at Navadvipa you have been provided
with a large house there, as well as a well-constructed latrine. Why have you gone to the trouble of leaving the
country? Why have you gone to these other places?”
At this, the man’s friend said, “He goes to other places for the deliverance of the people there. If our prabhu did
not go to other lands, what would happen to those people?”
Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja felt extremely disgusted and remarked, “If it is your real object to elevate people
of other lands, why do you desire the wealth of a king? I have studied your mentality. You are planning to
construct a brick house. If you will only sincerely engage in hari-bhajana and not consider yourself a ‘prabhu’, I
will inform Lord Nityananda, and you will have fifty brick houses. But you desire accommodations for the
material enjoyment of your sons and daughters, and thus Nitai will provide you with material paraphernalia and
deprive you of love of Krishna. If, in the name of liberating humanity, you seek material profit, adoration and
acclaim you will become fallen. What to speak of being liberated, the people will simply be cheated.” Having
thus spoken, Srila Babaji Maharaja started chanting loudly and refused to stop until that evening. He cautioned
those listening that as a result of an offense to the holy name or an offense in worshipping the Deity, one will
achieve three results: dharma (mundane piety), artha (material opulence) and kama (sense pleasure). These are
actually misfortunes for the living entity. Our guru, Lord Nityananda, cheats pseudo-devotees by supplying
their material wants but depriving them of love of God.
25: Gaura! Gaura! Not Rupee! Rupee!

Once, some people came to Babaji Maharaja and praised the son of a certain caste Gosvami for his skill in
explaining the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The boy always chanted, “Gaura! Gaura!” and expressed a variety of
emotional feelings. In this way he made many disciples. In reply, Babaji Maharaja told the people, “This so-
called Gosvami cannot explain the Gosvamis’ literature. He explains sense gratificatory sastra. He does not
chant, ‘Gaura! Gaura!’ He shouts, ‘Rupees! Rupees! My rupees!’ As long as he maintains this mentality, there
is no question of his performing hari-bhajana. By reason of his materialistic activity the Vaishnava dharma
remains concealed. It affords no benefit to the world; on the contrary, it creates a disturbance.”
26: One Suffers the Consequences of His Own Deeds

A certain young man came to Babaji Maharaja and expressed a desire to learn how to worship the Lord.
Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja said, “If you can leave aside the association of pseudo-Vaishnavas and
avaishnavas and can stay with us always, then you will be able to learn how to chant the name of Lord Hari. We
maintain ourselves by living on remnants of the foodstuffs eaten by the inhabitants of the Dhama, we use the
rejected earthen pots of the residents of the Dhama, and we collect and wear the discarded cloth used to cover
corpses. If you associate with other so-called Vaishnavas, or those practicing worldly religion, they will
consider you untouchable and reject you, or you will commit the offense of touching them.” Hearing this, the
young man said, “Yes, whatever you say, that I shall do.” After a while, however, being charmed by the
melodious voice of a bhajana performer named Rama dasa, who dwelt close by, he joined him in kirtana
without Babaji Maharaja’s knowledge. The young man also ate so-called prasada with and accepted the gift of a
pair of karatalas from him. One evening shortly thereafter, he chanted within the hearing of Babaji Maharaja,
playing his new karatalas. A few days later, after taking his morning bath in the Ganges, the young man began
loudly reciting Vaishnava-vandana within the hearing of Babaji Maharaja. When the young man went to collect
alms, Babaji Maharaja called an attendant and said, “He is secretly coming and going to the house of Rama
dasa, and whatever ‘devotion’ he is gathering there, he is trying to spread here. In fact, instead of devotion for
Lord Hari, he is amassing sinful reactions.” Hearing this, someone said to Babaji Maharaja, “Who has informed
you of all these things?” Babaji Maharaja replied, “By hearing his chanting and his manner of reading the
Vaishnava-vandana, I have been able to analyze him. He will not be permitted to stay here any more. If a man
once takes the bad association of counterfeit Vaishnavas or non-Vaishnavas, he will never follow any beneficial
instruction. He will only learn hypocrisy.” After this incident, the young man, without informing Babaji
Maharaja, suddenly left for Puri. Sorrowfully, Babaji Maharaja said, “That boy has been misguided. He was
tempted by unsanctified food and other things. I was not able to protect him. The jiva is independent and reaps
the results of his own deeds. Inspired by Krishna, he came to me, but he secretly associated with others and has
invited great danger. Now he will garb himself as a Vaishnava ascetic. In this way the ill-intentioned persons of
this world assist ordinary people in assuming the garb of devotees and turn them into fools. Hypocrites, who
receive obeisances from others and are greedy for good food, assume the guise of Vaishnavas. Their pretentious
chanting of the Lord’s name is nothing but the noise made by frogs. The more they croak, the sooner they will
be swallowed by the snake of material enjoyment.”
About a month later, the young man returned to Navadvipa. He had assumed the dress of a religious mendicant.
Accompanied by the Mahanta (head priest) of a nearby asrama, he came to see Babaji Maharaja. After offering
obeisances, the Mahanta said, “Your disciple has returned from Puri. He has become an advanced Vaishnava
and thinks himself fortunate. He has served Haridasa Thakura and is performing bhajana on the platform of
spontaneous devotion.” At this, Babaji Maharaja said, “I cannot determine what-sort of disciple of mine he is.
In this world I do not see anyone as a disciple. I have not been able to become a disciple; therefore, how can I
be expected to be the spiritual master of others. If one artificially assumes the garb of a Vaishnava, what sort of
Vaishnava will he be? The noise created by frog-like hypocrites is neither Hari-nama nor hari-bhajana. The
show of spontaneous devotion of such frog-like people is for achieving the happiness of sense pleasure, but they
cannot enjoy that happiness for long. The black snake of material enjoyment will swallow them. It is not so easy
to serve Haridasa Thakura. Why are you spoiling your life in the dress of a Mahanta? Why don’t you leave all
this aside and chant the Holy Name with purity?”
To this stern query, the Mahanta replied, “I have no material motive in taking up this position. It is only for the
welfare of the bhajana-asrama and for service to the Vaishnavas. This area was overgrown and I have cut down
the tangle of vegetation and tidied the area.” Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja was extremely mortified, and he
refused to talk to the Mahanta. When the Mahanta left, Babaji Maharaja told those nearby, “This atheistic
person has informed me that he has cut the wish-fulfilling trees and creepers of Navadvipa. Alas! Alas! Just see!
Just see! It grieves us to cut even a solitary dry tree of Navadvipa. These trees and plants are our eternal friends.
They assist Lord Gaura in His eternal pastimes. These cruel persons never achieve the qualification to perform
devotional service to Lord Hari. By making an outward show of being a Vaishnava, they bring misfortune to
themselves and to others as well.”
27: The Atonement for Adultery

A few days after this incident a person called Himavan came to see Srila Gaura Maharaja dasa Babaji and
begged him to allow him to stay in one of the dharmasala rooms. The proprietors of the dharmasala kept all the
rooms on the northern side under the control of Srila Babaji Maharaja. Himavan was permitted to stay in one of
these rooms. Srila Babaji Maharaja told him within the hearing of others, “He who wants to perform hari-
bhajana will not associate with worldly people. Those who secretly contemplate accepting such bad association,
while making a show of good association, or who associate with religious hypocrites, develop sinful tendencies.
I have seen many thousands of people ruining themselves by taking recourse to hypocrisy. Tolerating many
troubles patiently, if one constantly hears and chants in the association of Vaishnavas, he can maintain his
worship of the Holy Name.”
Even after being so instructed, Himavan used to secretly converse with hypocritical religionists. Babaji
Maharaja, upon considering this, became extremely angry, and shortly thereafter Himavan became seriously ill.
Seeing his suffering, the supremely merciful Babaji Maharaja asked one of his attendants to serve him. After a
few days it was observed that a young woman came and began tending to Himavan. The omniscient Babaji
Maharaja came to know of this and asked his servant, “Who is serving Himavan?” The servant replied, “I’m
serving Himavan. No one else is doing so.” Babaji Maharaja demanded in a deep, thundering voice, “Is anyone
else coming to him?” At this, the frightened servant admitted, “Yes, a woman comes to him.” When Babaji
Maharaja received this confirmation, he instructed the servant, “As that woman is coming to serve him, you
should not go to him any longer.” Babaji Maharaja called for Himavan and informed him, “If you want to stay
here, you will have to pay me fifteen rupees. If you cannot afford to pay fifteen rupees, then you should go
somewhere else, because if you happen to die, the money will be required to meet the expenses of your
cremation.”
After this, Babaji Maharaja said quietly to himself, “If I do not let this man stay here, the woman will inevitably
take him to her house. This is her desire, and she will then be able to nurse him at her ease.” After suffering for
a long time, Himavan was cured of the disease, and he then left for Vrindavana. Srila Babaji Maharaja ignored
him and offered no resistance to his going. Having journeyed to Vrindavana, Himavan stayed with Damodara
dasa of Kusuma Sarovara. This Damodara dasa was well known to Babaji Maharaja. After circumambulating
the twelve forests of Vrindavana, Himavan went to Damodara dasa one day and said, “In the garb of a
Vaishnava I have committed adultery. Please tell me how I can save myself.” Damodara dasa said, “You must
give up your life. Apart from this there is no atonement. This is what has been prescribed by Mahaprabhu.”
Himavan had a few grams of opium brought from Govardhana and took it. After ingesting the opium, he
perspired profusely, and, trembling, came to Damodara dasa and informed him that he had taken opium with a
view to giving up his life. After taking repeated doses, he lost his life. Simultaneously, Damodara dasa was also
attacked by a deadly disease. At that time, a certain Gosvami was in Vrindavana. He arranged for Damodara’s
treatment and helped to save him. As soon as Damodara recovered, he returned to Navadvipa and came to see
Srila Babaji Maharaja. Seeing him, Babaji Maharaja warned him, “You stay somewhere else! If you stay here
with me, you will lose your life, because there are two dacoits nearby. One is Narendra and the other is Larai.
Professing to be my servants, they have made propaganda with my neighbors that they are staying with me.
Where they stay at night, I do not know. Once, in the dead of night, I called for them to bring me a glass of
water. I shouted for a long time, but there was no response from them. The following morning, when I
mentioned this to them, they said, ‘We didn’t hear a thing.’ “ Thereafter, being ignored by Babaji Maharaja,
Damodara dasa took shelter in the house of a certain young woman. Hearing about his activities from others,
Babaji Maharaja became furious and said, “Don’t speak about any of this in my presence.”
Another hypocrite in the dress of a Vaishnava had also lived at Kusuma Sarovara with Damodara dasa. He was
similarly rejected by Babaji Maharaja. A story was related that during the night several dacoits took out his eyes
and cut his body to pieces. People said that the duplicitous fellow had stolen goods with him which he had kept
well hidden. He was cruelly murdered by the dacoits on that account.
These incidents vividly illustrate the danger of posing as a Vaishnava but secretly associating with materialists
and committing sinful activity. The young man who went to Vrindavana, associated with sinful persons and fell
down with a young woman, was unjustly advised by the hypocrite, Damodara dasa, to commit suicide.
Damodara dasa suggested an atonement which he himself could never have performed and for an evil act he
later indulged in himself Although suicide is sometimes prescribed as the atonement for such misbehavior on
the part of a sannyasi, and was approved of by Mahaprabhu in the case of Junior Haridasa, taking recourse to
the constant chanting of the holy name is generally considered sufficient atonement-provided the malefactor is
prepared to give up his evil ways. At any rate, it can be easily concluded from these incidents that sinful
activities conducted by someone dressed as a liberated Vaishnava have particularly grave consequences. Of
course, it should not be imagined that it is hypocritical not to indulge in the sinful things one may desire in
one’s impure heart. If one feels unable to decry that evil with which he is yet afflicted, then he should keep
silent but steadfastly refuse to succumb to it.
One derives no benefit from the association of Maha-Bhagavatas if he does not heed their advice and associates
instead with hypocritical religionists. No good will be availed to one who is insincere in his assumption of the
dress of a Vaishnava and his renunciation of the world. On the contrary, such insincerity is productive of great
misfortune. Those who were hypocritical in their dealings with Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu were ruined as a
result of their committing the offense of deliberately maintaining material attachment while chanting the holy
name.
28: Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu and Maharaja Manindra Chandra

Knowing that Babaji Maharaja was a superlative Vaishnava and the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, the famous zamindar of Kasimbazar, Sri Manindra Chandra Nandy, invited Srila Gaura-
kisora Prabhu to a Vaishnava conference, which was to be held at his palace. Moved by the invitation of the
Vaishnava king, and with a heavy heart, Srila Babaji Maharaja responded, “If you want my association, you
will have to leave your property in the hands of your officials and come and reside here. You must dwell on the
bank of the Ganges River at Navadvipa in a thatched hut with me. You won’t have to think of procuring food. I
shall personally feed you by begging alms. Thus, I shall be obliged to come to your chanting compound by your
daily invitation. But if I presently accept your invitation and leave the transcendental Gaura-Dhama and go to
stay at your royal palace, then in no time I shall consider myself your competitor. As a result of this, I shall
attempt to acquire land and property. This will create a great obstacle to my Krishna-bhajana and the desire to
worship the objects of the senses will arise in my heart. In the course of time, I shall become envious of a
Vaishnava king. Naturally, if I want to maintain everlasting love and friendship with you, and if, as my
Vaishnava friend, you sincerely wish to show kindness to me, then it will be our bounden duty to stay at this
transcendental place of Visvambhara’s, maintain our lives by the activities of madhukari and always remain
busy in worshiping Lord Hari.”
Another account of this incident and Babaji Maharaja’s response to the king’s entreaty is as follows:
“The Maharaja of Kasimbazar, the late Manindrachandra Nandi Bahudara, tried with great effort to take Srila
Babaji Maharaja to the Kasimbazar palace, but his desire was not successful. When the Maharaja’s man went to
Babaji Maharaja and said that by the order of the Maharaja he would take Babaji Mahasaya with great care by
palanquin to Krishnanagar and from there by First Class train to Kasimbazar, Srila Babaji Maharaja replied-‘If I
go to the Maharaja’s palace I may become greedy for wealth and due to that there would be a possibility of
strained relations with the Maharaja. Let him give over all his worldly possessions to his relatives and officers
and come to me. I shall have a boat-cover like mine made and give it to him for a dwelling place, and together
we shall blissfully perform hari-bhajana.’ Seeing no other means, the Maharaja’s man left.”
Babaji Maharaja was, of course, perfectly realized and aloof from all material temptation. Yet he graciously
warned the non-liberated devotee, by this humble example, of the danger of accepting materialistic association
or excessively opulent material facilities. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu voiced similar warnings in His dealings
with Maharaja Prataparudra. Initially He would have nothing to do with the king. He would not even meet him,
saying that it was improper for a sannyasi to meet with a materialistic, person, despite His knowing the monarch
to be an elevated devotee. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s adherents exerted themselves to arrange meetings on the
king’s behalf, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would not agree. Eventually, the king came to Him, stripped of his
royal attire, dressed as a mendicant and reciting verses from the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and thereby received the
mercy of Mahaprabhu. Regarding associating with mundane people, Srila Prabhupada comments in the
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila, chapter 13 verse 187: “Although outwardly the King was a mundane man
interested in money and women, internally he was purified by devotional activities. He showed this by engaging
as a street sweeper to please Lord Jagannatha. A person may appear to be a pounds-and-shillings man interested
in money and women, but if he is actually very meek and humble and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, he is not mundane. Such a judgment can be made only by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His very
confidential devotees. As a general principle, however, no devotee should intimately mix with mundane people
interested in money and women.”
29: Secret Immoral Behavior

There was a certain pandita Babaji of Kuliya, who wore only a loincloth as his dress. This pandita Babaji was a
much-respected person, whose secret immorality wounded the feelings of Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu. As a result
of this, Babaji Maharaja left aside his loincloth and outer garment one day and dressed himself in a fine dhoti
and chaddar. Having attired himself in the manner of a dapper materialist, he went to see Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura at Svananda-sukhada-kunja. The Thakura, beholding him in this unexpected dress, asked him why he
was so attired. Babaji Maharaja replied, “We have adopted the dress of Sri Caitanya, but privately we do not
hesitate to commit adultery. Hence, it is better for us to dress like the husband of a prostitute than to assume the
guise of Sri Caitanya and commit adultery secretly. In this way we will at least be free from hypocrisy.”
Another version of this incident is found in Prabhupada Srila Sarasvati Thakura:
‘Seeing the wretched condition of these monkey-like renunciates, Srila Babaji Maharaja arrived one day before
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura at the Sri Svananda-sukhada-kunja wearing a beautifully bordered dhoti and shawl.
Seeing the crest-jewel of possessionless saints in that dress the Thakura became extremely amazed. Srila Babaji
Maharaja said-“It is a thousand times better to put on the dress of a well-to-do gentleman than to wear a
loincloth and secretly perform immoral behavior. Not only in the countryside villages, but even in the Gaudiya
Vaishnavas’ very famous holy places, what outrages-what mischiefs are being carried on by these monkeys!
They forget-
‘gorara ami, gorara ami, mukhe bolile nahi cale,
gorara acara, gorara vicara loile phala phale
loka-dekhana gora bhaja tilaka-matra dhari’,
gopanete atyacara gora dhare curi.’
“It will not do if you just vibrate the sounds, ‘I am Gaura’s, I am Gaura’s’, with your mouth. If Gaura’s
behavior and deliberations are accepted, then results will fructify. If you only wear tilaka and worship Gaura to
show off to other people while secretly acting immorally, Gaura detects your theft.”’
30: Result of Offense Committed to the Acarya

A certain Ayatra Punya lived at Mayapura for a few days, and then he departed. Shortly thereafter, he brought
alms from Mayapura to Navadvipa and went to take darsana of Babaji Maharaja, who resided there at that time.
Babaji Maharaja inquired from him about Mayapura. In reply Ayatra Punya remarked, “I will not go to
Mayapura any more, because that Sarasvati and others there are Vaikuntha men. They are interested in the
aisvarya mood, I prefer bhajana in the mood of Vraja. I am not interested in their association.” Hearing this,
Babaji Maharaja felt disgusted and said, “It is ridiculous for a sparrow to attempt to cross the ocean. If you are
really serious about living in Vraja, give up your criticism, be lowly and humble like the grass and always chant
the Holy Name of the Lord day and night. The first and foremost principle is that you should give up
offensiveness at the feet of the Vaishnavas. Do you think you will get information about Vaikuntha from hell?
Sarasvati Thakura is in Vaikuntha, and he is in Vrindavana as well. You are presently in the lap of the witch
Maya. How will you know the Sarasvati of Vraja?” At this rebuke, Ayatra Punya said, “I will live with you in
Navadvipa.” Srila Babaji Maharaja said, “You are not in a position to live at Navadvipa. One who commits
offenses at the lotus feet of Vaishnavas cannot live in Navadvipa. You are an offender at the feet of
transcendental Mayapura. You are sure to become degraded. I live at Mayapura and Navadvipa as well. Those
who detest living in Mayapura will never be able to live at Navadvipa. Sri Mayapura is the birthplace of the son
of Saci. It is a transcendental abode. You don’t possess the eyes to see how Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and
Sarasvati Prabhu have exemplified the performance of hari-bhajana with pure ecstatic emotion. You are
inimical to one Vaishnava and pray to another for mercy.”
Thereafter, it actually came to be, as predicted by Babaji Maharaja, that the aforesaid man became atheistic and
indulged in illicit intercourse with women. He was begging alms and purchasing expensive gifts for various
women with whom he had illicit connection. Such is the result of committing offenses against great
personalities.
31: Sensuous People View the World with Lust

The aforementioned Ayatra Punya went to Srila Babaji Maharaja one day and criticized an intimate and
elevated associate of Babaji Maharaja’s: “He whom you consider a soul of great devotion and address as
‘Prabhu’ is showing signs of attachment to the objects of the senses. There is every probability that he will
become a horrid materialist.” Hearing this, Srila Babaji Maharaja became so grave and silent that those who
were nearby were frightened by his mood and they requested Punya to leave the place immediately. Srila Babaji
Maharaja’s attitude that day has been aptly expressed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
vaishnava caritra sarvada pavitra
yei ninde hisa kori
bhaktivinoda na sambhashe tare
take sada mauna dhori
“The actions and character of a Vaishnava are always pure. One who criticizes a Vaishnava commits violence.
Bhaktivinoda does not speak to one who criticizes a Vaishnava and thus maintains his silence. “
When Punya departed, Babaji Maharaja spoke in a trembling voice in his direction, saying, “This wretched fool
has become lustful for material things. By assigning his own mischief to a Vaishnava, he indicates his own
condition. A Vaishnava never becomes materially attached except to render service to Krishna. A person who
has the least attachment to material objects can never develop love and devotion for Krishna. That one has the
symptoms of natural love and devotion cannot be clearly understood without one’s exhibiting great attachment
to the objects necessary for his service to Hari. He who is greatly devoted to Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna
shows a great natural attachment for objects favorable to Their service. Such attachment is not for the purpose
of their own enjoyment or for that of their family members. Seeing their attachment, which is greater than that
of a materialist’s, to worldly objects necessary for serving Krsna, the so-called renunciates and the sensualists
think that the affectionate devotee is materially attached. In fact, those who are without such sincere attachment-
their show of devotion to Krsna is nothing but hypocrisy. He who privately speaks ill of a Vaishnava should be
avoided. I shall not look upon the face of that wicked man again.”
32: The Attachment of a Maha-bhagavata

A householder Vaishnava once presented a valuable shawl to Srila Gaura-kisora. He accepted it, kept it with
great care and highly praised the present. On another occasion a man from a Vaishnava family gave Babaji
Maharaja a few rupees. He accepted it, knotted it in the border of his outer garment and kept it very carefully.
He examined it with his hand repeatedly to see whether the money was safe. A wealthy, materialistic man from
Calcutta noticed this and lost whatever little faith he had for Babaji Maharaja. A few days later Babaji Maharaja
gave away the shawl and the money to a Vaishnava. When the foolish materialist met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati in Calcutta, he remarked, “I went to see Srila Babaji Maharaja, but I saw that he very eagerly received
a shawl and some money. He glorified the donors repeatedly. I am unable to discern what sort of sadhu he is.”
Hearing this foolishness from the wealthy, worldly man, Srila Sarasvati Thakura sharply replied, “You have
merely observed his superficial behavior. In reality, he has shown his attachment to the service of Krishna. The
rest of us show our attachment to worldly pleasure. Those fools to whom wealth is dear think that Srila Babaji
Maharaja is also greedy for wealth. He has merely praised a person who favorably served a Vaishnava, and we
flatter those who help us achieve our personal sense gratification. As lustful men see the world full of beautiful
women, materialistic and falsely renounced devotees of Krishna look upon the activities of a Maha-bhagavata,
which are pleasing to Krishna’s senses, as sense gratification.
33: Unconditional Shelter at the Lotus Feet of a Bonafide Spiritual Master

Sincere devotional service to Krishna is far above worldly ethics and learning. Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu and
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura have shown this ideal by expressing it through the following pastime:
Under the instruction of Thakura Bhaktivinoda, Srila Sarasvati Thakura went to meet Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu
and prayed for bhagavati-diksha. On the occasion of Sarasvati Thakura’s first attempt, Srila Babaji Maharaja
told him, “I shall ask Mahaprabhu about this, for without asking Him, I am in no position to tell you anything.”
On the succeeding day, when Srila Sarasvati Thakura approached him again, Babaji Maharaja said that he had
forgotten to ask Mahaprabhu. Sarasvati Thakura earnestly implored him, saying, “If I do not get your mercy, I
shall not maintain my life.” On the third day, Sarasvati Thakura presented himself before Srila Gaura-kisora,
who said, “I inquired from Mahaprabhu, but He said, ‘Good behavior and scholarship are extremely
insignificant in comparison to devotional service to the Supreme Lord.’ “ Hearing this, Srila Sarasvati Thakura
was rather hurt and said, “Because you worship Krishna, the crest jewel of hypocrites, are you thus not
deceiving me? If I do not receive the mercy of your divine lotus feet, I shall give up my life. Goshthi Purna
favored Sri Ramanujacarya after his request for initiation was turned down eighteen times. Certainly, I shall
wait to be favored by you some day. This is my firm vow.” Hearing this, Srila Babaji Maharaja was extremely
pleased and sprinkled him with the dust of his lotus feet. That same day Srila Sarasvati Thakura was initiated at
Svananda-sukhada-kunja by Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja.
34: The Pride of Artificial Renunciation

Gopala dasa Babaji, who was proud of being the disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, lived in Sri Dhama
Mayapura, the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He began to artificially imitate the indifference to
worldly affairs of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji. He was always absorbed in chanting in the place where he
stayed-a fruit orchard. In order to present himself as being rapt in chanting, he ignored the cows who destroyed
the fruits of the orchard. He maintained indifference to all disturbances and thus attempted to show that he was
always absorbed in chanting and was disinterested in external affairs. One day he proudly informed Srila
Sarasvati Thakura that he was more apathetic to worldly affairs than Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu. Hearing this,
and considering the man’s welfare, Srila Sarasvati Thakura rebuked him, and then feelingly extolled the
extraordinary character and indifference to worldly affairs of Babaji Maharaja. Gopala dasa complained to
Thakura Bhaktivinoda about this. The Thakura’s rejoinder was, “It will be to your advantage to hear Sarasvati
Prabhu’s chastisement and advice.” Even the old Muslim inhabitants of Mayapura would speak amongst
themselves about the detachment of Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji and Gopala dasa Babaji-the former’s being
natural, the latter’s-artificial. One cannot become a renunciate or bhajananandi simply by mimicking the
detachment of Maha-bhagavatas.
35: A Hypocrite’s Prayer for Mercy

On another occasion Ayatra Punya came to see Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura at Mayapura on the
pretext of wanting to perform hari-bhajana in his association. He used to also visit Babaji Maharaja, but the
latter paid no real attention to him. Srila Sarasvati Thakura was the favorite of Babaji Maharaja, so Ayatra
Punya often requested Sarasvati Thakura to speak a few words on his behalf, so that he could obtain the mercy
of Babaji Maharaja. Being oft entreated by Ayatra, Srila Sarasvati Thakura mentioned his plea to Srila Gaura-
kisora Prabhu one day and requested Babaji Maharaja to be merciful to him. Babaji Maharaja informed
Sarasvati Thakura about the hypocritical nature of Ayatra and told his disciple that it was not proper that a
sincere Vaishnava of Sarasvati’s status should intercede on behalf of a hypocrite. As a matter of course, Srila
Gaura-kisora Prabhu told Sarasvati Thakura many things relating to this matter. After some time he took the
dust of his own feet and smeared it on Srila Sarasvati Thakura’s head and said, “You are non-different from
Lord Nityananda. Thus, your heart melts at the sorrow of others. But this person is extremely hypocritical and
inveterately sinful. He does not desire his own welfare. His prayer for my mercy is merely an affectation.”
As if to reveal the extent of wickedness, Ayatra Punya one day drank water from a skull and told Sarasvati
Thakura, “Behold! I am more detached from the material world than Gaura-kisora Prabhu. Can he drink water
from a skull?” Hearing this, Srila Sarasvati Thakura said, “You evil wretch! Leave this place! My master will
not perform the abominable acts of a worshiper of Kali. You are a demon, an atheist! You therefore have a taste
for all kind of abominable activities. You are sure to be condemned to hell.” As a result of his pride and his
offenses to great saintly persons, Punya contracted the disease of illicit connection with women, and he took to
begging to provide the prostitutes he visited with their daily necessities.
36: Single-minded Chanting of the Lord’s Holy Name

Once, an old Vaishnava, who was as venerable as a spiritual master to Babaji Maharaja, became attached to
Deity worship instead of showing the ideal path of constant chanting of the Lord’s name. While staying at
Kuliya, Babaji Maharaja mentioned this to Sarasvati Thakura. “The old Vaishnava has adopted the practice of
arcana at the fag end of his life.” Hearing this, Sarasvati Thakura questioned him, saying, “Are you teasing me?
There cannot be any deviation in the behavior of one who is like your spiritual master.” To this Babaji Maharaja
replied, “If that is so, I shall not say any more in this regard.” Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu narrated this incident in
order to instruct us that the path of arcana might constitute a reduction in the indifference to worldly affairs of
one advanced in the performance of Hari-bhajana.
37: Love and Lust

A learned caste-gosvami delivered a discourse on Bhramara-Gita (Sri Radha’s soliloquy to a bee) at Kuliya in
Navadvipa. After he had lectured for two or three days, someone informed Babaji Maharaja that his discourses
were excellent, and that no one had ever heard such discourses before. Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja told his
informant, “Don’t go to hear that discourse on Bhramara-Gita again. Behold! When there is rain, weeds grow
very quickly. Carefully planted seeds can also grow, but some are destroyed prematurely by a heavy downpour.
By hearing a discourse about Krishna and His pastimes, the seeds of love for Krishna bud forth in the heart of
those persons who are pure, devoid of material desires and sincerely dedicated to the service of the spiritual
master and the Vaishnavas. Those in whom the seed of lust is found, however, will immediately become lustful
upon hearing of the sportive pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. By pretentiously hearing the pastimes of
Radha-Krishna, their lust becomes inflamed. The consciousness of the conditioned living beings is covered by
lust, and thus they take the transcendental pastimes of Radha-Govinda to be the libidinous exploits of a
mundane hero and heroine. Those who assume that, because they have faith in the pastimes of Radha and
Krishna they are able to experience the transcendental nature of those pastimes, are unaware of their own carnal
desires, being overwhelmed by the illusory energy. You cannot understand from their utterances whether the
pastimes are transcendental or whether they have proper regard for the pastimes.” Hearing this, another man
from the assembly said, “I saw that some members of the audience who were listening to the Bhramara-Gita
cried out in spiritual ecstasy, and some wept saying, ‘O Krishna! O Radha “ Babaji Maharaja replied, “It was
not spiritual ecstasy, but rather the madness born of lust. This kind of deviation will cause the ruin of the world.
You have come to know of their so-called ecstasy by seeing them weep. He who has no love for himself, how
can he get love of God through the display of Maya? If someone has truly achieved love of God, then request
him to leave his home and family. He should come to the banks of the Ganges, renounce sense gratification and
take shelter of honest, non-duplicitous bhajana. If we observe him performing this austerity for one year, then
we will know the true extent of his eagerness to hear Bhramara-Gita.”
This is the test of advancement enjoined by Babaji Maharaja for those who exhibit the signs of spiritual
emotion. Let them disassociate themselves from their kith and kin, for at least one year, and live the life of
renunciation as is found in those truly detached from worldliness. If they cannot pass this test then we must
assume that they are foolish pretenders and their ecstasies the outward sign of licentiousness.
38: What is Genuine Madhukari?

A person named Saha used to voluntarily send bags of rice to Babaji Maharaja. Other well-wishers used to send
some rice for him as well. This rice was stocked in a room at the Rani dharmasala at Kuliya, Navadvipa. This
practice came to the notice of Babaji Maharaja. After two months of accepting Saha’s donation, Babaji
Maharaja sent a man to request him to stop sending the rice. As soon as Saha was thus informed, he came to see
Babaji Maharaja and inquired, “O Prabhu, how have I offended you? Why have you refused my alms?” In
response, Babaji Maharaja remarked, “My spiritual master told me that it is better to be a virtuous bull than a
domesticated cow.” Overhearing this, one of the persons present asked Babaji Maharaja to explain the meaning
of this statement. Babaji Maharaja then explained, “A cow is well looked after by the householder who gets
milk from her. Thus, a person who sustains his life by taking food from only one man becomes dependent on
that man just like a domesticated cow. When the protector gets into debt, however, his creditor will sell the cow
and thus realize the debt. On the other hand, a virtuous bull is not under the control of a particular person. The
animal moves freely from field to field and thus nourishes his body. Although the bull sometimes receives
blows, it is not under any lifelong bondage. Moreover, those who keep badly behaved cows occasionally have
to pay fines due to the cows’ destruction of the property of others. If someone begs with a desire to get his
necessities becomes like the protected cow. These days the word madhukari is very commonly used. Those who
take up the dress of the Babaji often say they will take to madhukari. Madhukari is a transcendental practice.
Those who adopt this occupation surrender themselves to Krishna, their bodily consciousness being vanquished.
On the other hand, the materialists who have a taste for gratifying their tongues and genitals are bound in the
cycle of birth and death for a long time. Dependent on materialists, those who want to chant and worship in
Vraja or Navadvipa are like cows kept under protection. Those who collect their alms by begging from door to
door in the name of madhukari for eating well are pious bulls. This principle of madhukari has been well stated
in the song composed by Bhaktivinoda Prabhu:

kabe gaura-vane, suradhuni-tate,

'ha radhe ha krishna’ bole’
kandiya beda’bo, deho-sukha chadi’,
nana lata-taru-tale
swa-paca-grihete, magiya khaibo,
pibo saraswati-jala
puline puline, gada-gadi dibo,
kori’ krishna-kolahala
dhama-basi jane, pranati koriya,
magibo kripara lesa
vaishnava-carana- renu gaya makhi’,
dhori’ avadhuta-vesa
gauda-braja-jane, bheda na dekhibo,
hoibo baraja-basi
dhamera swarupa, sphuribe nayane,
|hoibo radhara dasi

“When will I wander weeping under the shade of various trees and creepers on the banks of the celestial Ganga
river in the land of Navadvipa, crying, “O Radha! O Krishna!” and forgetting all physical comforts?
“I will take my meals by begging at the homes of candalas, and will drink the water of the Sarasvati river. In
ecstasy I will roll on the ground from bank to bank of the river, raising an uproar of “Krishna! Krishna!”
“Bowing down to the inhabitants of the holy land of Navadvipa, I will beg an iota of their mercy. I will wear the
dress of a mendicant and smear the dust of the Vaishnavas’ feet on my body.
“I will see no difference between the inhabitants of Vraja Bhumi and those of Navadvipa, and I will be
transformed into a resident of Vraja. The true nature of the Lord’s abode will manifest itself to my eyes, and I
will become a maidservant of Srimati Radharani.”
39: The Duty of Married Couples

After his wedding, a rich man from Calcutta, who had taken shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, wished to know how he could utilize his time in hari-bhajana while situated in married life. With that
purpose in mind, he approached Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for instruction. The wealthy
gentleman became very depressed when he was informed by Sarasvati Thakura that there might well be various
obstacles in his attempt to perform hari-bhajana as a householder. Later on, this gentleman, accompanied by
Srila Sarasvati Thakura, went to meet Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja on the riverbank at Kuliya.
When it was mentioned to Srila Babaji Maharaja that the gentleman had married, Babaji Maharaja commented,
“Yes, it is all right that he has married. From this time on he will daily cook and offer foodstuffs to Lord
Vishnu. After offering it to Him, he will serve the prasada to his wife, and then as a Vaishnava he will take her
prasada remnants. He will consider her as Krishna’s servitor and his spiritual master. He will not think of her as
an object for sensual gratification. Everything in this world: wealth, jewelry, men and women, are all for
worshipping Krishna: That which is meant for Krishna’s service should be utilized as such. Do not consider
your wife as one meant for your service. Instead, respect her as a servitor of Krishna.”
Here is the purport to Babaji Maharaja’s foregoing discussions with householders. The sense of proprietorship
of one’s spouse is to be eschewed, and the conception of one’s spouse as Krishna’s worshipable servitor is to be
nurtured. When one regards one’s mate as the servitor of the Lord and thus suitable for His enjoyment only, one
can easily transcend the urge to indulge in illicit sex which so bedevils many a married couple.
40: The Return Ticket

Kailasa Bandyopadhyaya, M.A.B.L., once went from Calcutta to Kuliya to have the audience of Srila Gaura-
kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. When he was introduced, the latter told him, “Very good! You should stay here
for Hari-bhajana.” Mr. Bandyopadhyaya replied, “But I have a return ticket for Calcutta.” Babaji Maharaja was
astonished at this and said, “You have booked a return ticket! So why have you come to me? There was no need
of your coming to me if you have booked a return ticket! According to my understanding, only those who are
genuinely interested in hari-bhajana come to the Dhama.”
There is no return to material life for one who visits the Holy Dhamas of the Lord with a steadfast vow to
become eternally situated in His loving service. We can only assume that Srila Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji
Maharaja expected Sriman Kailasaji to return to his wonted materialism when he availed himself of his return
ticket rather than return as a man altered by his association with the residents of the Dhama. The particular
benefit afforded one by a pilgrimage to the abode of God manifest on earth is getting the association of sadhus.
Unless one surrenders himself in a mood of eagerness at the lotus feet of a genuine sadhu, one cannot derive the
full benefit of visiting a holy artha. Mr. Kailasa’s excuse for not engaging wholeheartedly in devotional service
was so trivial as to simply invite a stern castigation.
41: External Purity and Material Desire

A famous professional Bhagavatam reciter from Navadvipa named Gosvami once visited Srila Gaura-kisora
Prabhu, clad in a woolen garment. While conversing, they began to discuss purity in devotional service. When
asked about this, Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu said, “People with desires contrary to devotional service, who are
attached to gold and women, who make a show of purity, cannot perform sacrifices or other religious
performances purely. Their manifold, impure activities are merely heaps of impurity on already piled-up
garbage. If there is a spot of leprosy on any part of the body, it gradually spreads to other parts. There are
people who want to maintain purity by simply putting on woolen clothes at the time of going to the latrine or by
taking bath in the Ganges River. Their minds, however, are full of thoughts of sense gratification. They are very
impure. They are so impure that they cannot realize their impurity even if it is explained to them. There are
people who superficially put on woolen or saffron cloth, eat only sunned rice and take bath in the Ganges River
to show that they are genuine Vaishnavas, but their hearts are full of material desires. They show great concern
for their sons, wealth, women and position, but the service to a Vaishnava does not appeal to them. However,
Krishna does not happily accept the service of those who are not attached to serving the Vaishnavas, however
pure they may try to be.”
It should not be misunderstood from this incident that it is improper to wear woolen cloth, to bathe in the
Ganges or to eat sunned rice. Practices which help one maintain external purity, which rid one of sinful
reactions or promote health no doubt have their place. But they are of no avail if one is unprepared to take the
foot-dust of pure devotees of the Lord upon one’s head. Men who have no devotion in their hearts are often
found to act irreproachably with respect to ritual acts of purification and matters pertaining to the well being of
the mortal frame. As it is stated in Bhagavad-Gita:

bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam
tayapahrita-cetasam
vyavasayatmika buddhih
samadhau na vidhiyate

“In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered
by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.” (Bg
2.44) Srila Prabhupada offers the following comments in this regard, “Samadhi [absorption in spiritual ecstasy]
is never possible for persons interested in material sense enjoyment, nor for those who are bewildered by such
temporary things. They are more or less condemned by the process of material energy.”
42: The Birthplace of Lord Gaura

Once, a man constructed a tin-roofed hut under a neem tree at the southwest corner of the outdoor theater of a
wealthy resident of Navadvipa. He installed a Deity of Bala-Gaura (baby Gaura) there and declared to his
neighbors that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had been born under that very neem tree. He explained that the Lord’s
birthsite had previously been lost and covered. In order to re-establish this long-lost, holy site, he began to
collect donations from pilgrims. The enterprising rascal invited Srila Vamsi dasa Babaji Maharaja, who was a
pure Vaishnava and very austere, to visit this newly discovered tirtha, and he spared no pains in seeking to
persuade him that this site was the actual Mayapura of Navadvipa. He explained all of this with the hope that
Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu could be prevailed upon to believe that the above-mentioned site was the authentic
birthplace. Presently, this counterfeit birthplace is known variously as Vanikpada, Sankharipada or
Malancapada, etc. The rascal claimed that this had all been revealed to him by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Himself in a dream. He declared that the present Mayapura, which is situated opposite Navadvipa on the eastern
bank of the river Ganges, was not the authentic place of Mahaprabhu’s birth. Upon being informed of his claim,
Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu commented, “The words of those great souls who have already uncovered the birth
site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by the power of their bhajana are the genuine, conclusive proof. The lost holy
places of Mahaprabhu cannot be revealed by dreams alone. Holy places reveal themselves to pure devotees, and
those saintly persons do not restore the lost tirthas for the sake of acquiring wealth. Only those who are
Gauranga’s personal associates can re-establish the lost birthplace of Gauranga. Others do not have such
spiritual power. By the power of their knowledge and proper discrimination Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji and
Thakura Bhaktivinoda have discovered the real birth site of Mahaprabhu, just as Sri Advaita Acarya brought
about the advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” As soon as Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu had uttered these words,
Srila Vamsi dasa Babaji took up a sickle and cut the fence which enclosed the imposter’s tin hut. By this act he
informed the innocent pilgrims that a hypocrite was illegally imitating great self-realized souls.
43: A Festival for Paupers

Once, on the day preceding the observance of the disappearance of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Babaji
Maharaja informed a devotee: “Tomorrow is the day when Sri Gosvami Prabhu disappeared. We will observe a
great festival. In Navadvipa such festivals are not observed by the caste Gosvamis.” Hearing this, the devotee
inquired, “How shall we obtain the necessary articles for the festival? How shall we celebrate it?” Srila Babaji
Maharaja replied, “Keep this to yourself. We will forego our daily meal and constantly chant the Lord’s Holy
Name. This is how paupers like us will celebrate the festival.”
44: How to Recognize a Vaishnava

Once, someone asked Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu, “The actual character of topmost Vaishnavas does not always
seem to correspond to the descriptions of their character which are revealed in the scriptures such as Srimad-
Bhagavatam. Such Vaishnavas sometimes even appear to exhibit mundane characteristics. Please be merciful
and instruct us in this matter so that we can easily recognize a genuine Vaishnava.”
Srila Babaji Maharaja responded, “Out of his own free will and the inspiration of Krishna, a great Vaishnava,
being saddened by the misery of the fallen and conditioned souls, advents himself in a certain family, in a
certain place and at a certain time. When such an exalted Vaishnava attracts people by his ecstatic love and
devotion and teaches them devotion to Lord Krishna, the Lord considers with some trepidation, ‘It will be
difficult for Me to repay the debt to those who have surrendered themselves to such Vaishnavas, who are as
dear to Me as My life. I will become the servant of those who are affectionate to My pure devotees, and thus I
will easily come under their control.’ With this fear Sri Krishna occasionally conceals the spiritual qualities of
great souls from the eyes of the public. By the power of Krishna’s maya-sakti, the characteristics of the genuine
Vaishnavas are concealed from those who have interests contrary to devotional service. Thus genuine
Vaishnavas appear to the materialistic to have materialistic characters. In this mood, Krishna examines the
living entity to see how much he is actually attracted to the Absolute Truth, and if he is, He reveals the spiritual
characteristics of the great souls. Hence, without the exercise of the independent will of a Vaishnava, no one
can know him even after seeing in him all of the characteristics described by the scriptures. It is often observed
that the Vaishnavas praise the materialists and thereafter keep their distance from them. Sometimes, out of fear
of the crowd, such Vaishnavas conceal their natural spiritual symptoms. Sometimes they make a pretense of
converting materialistic persons into their disciples. They seem to want to be served by them and always take
their advice. Thus, they keep their true nature obscured. I have seen with my own eyes that at Vraja a great
bhajananandi used to worship and chant at a village some distance north of Sri Radha-kunda. Many distressed
people used to visit him. He gave them the hope that they could fulfill their desires, both physical and mental,
by praying to Krishna. In the course of time, his fame spread near and far, and people went there in droves, day
and night. He came to be reputed as a man of pure devotional austerity, a siddha-babaji. When the news was
spread that he was an extremely renounced soul, devoid of the desire for gold, women and adoration, and
compassionate to conditioned souls, he was much harassed by a constant flow of visitors. Troubled by this, he
made arrangements with a rich man for a monthly allowance, and with that money he engaged a young sweeper
woman who sat in front of his cottage and acted as his servant. Seeing this, the people began to criticize him,
concluding that this Vaishnava was a womanizer and attached to wealth, etc. Others stopped visiting this great-
souled bhajananandi when they no longer obtained any material results from their homage to him. In fact, he
was a real Vaishnava. When the Vaishnavas graciously reveal themselves, faithful persons who become
attracted by the mercy of those Vaishnavas and completely surrender to them, can know the true identity of
such Vaishnavas. Those who are very fortunate are not deprived of their service or their mercy. Otherwise, the
Vaishnavas devise various deceptive means to hide themselves. To know a Vaishnava one has to pray sincerely
at the lotus feet of Gaura-Nityananda, and by Their mercy, when one’s heart becomes devoid of pride and filled
with humility, Nitai-Gaura then reveal the true identity of a Vaishnava in one’s heart. Nitai-Gaura are revealed
through the Vaishnava, and the Vaishnava is revealed by Gaura-Nitai. It has been well-stated in Sri Caitanya-
caritamrita by Sri Kaviraja Gosvami: ei dui bhai hridayera kshali’ andhakara dui bhagavata-sange karana
sakshatkara.”
45: The Imitation of Maha-bhagavatas

A brahmacari born in a brahmana family went to Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu and expressed his eagerness to
execute hari-bhajana in his association. Shortly thereafter, he became well respected by the people for his
devotional austerities. Seeing the reverence which the people showed him, the brahmacari decided to build a
thatched hut like Babaji Maharaja’s. He secretly collected funds for this purpose and built a cottage on the bank
of the river Ganges. The brahmacari then thought to take the permission ot Babaji Maharaja before he entered
the hut, but before he could broach the subject the omniscient Babaji said, “Oh, respected brahmacari, that you
have a desire to execute bhajana is good, but if you enter the house of Maya, you will be increasingly entangled
by Maya. You should leave this thatched hut and perform your bhajana under a tree.”
At this, a sentimental follower of Babaji Maharaja asked, “You previously advised us to do bhajana by going
into a room and bolting the door from the inside. Why do you now say that Hari-bhajana should be performed
under a tree, otherwise it will not be Hari-bhajana?” Hearing this, Babaji Maharaja replied angrily, “Yes, I was
correct in saying so. This body is the house, and our two eyes are doors. He who closes the doors and learns to
imitate the external behavior of a Vaishnava can never be said to have closed the door. His only means for
success is to take shelter under a tree. One gets the supreme benediction if he obeys the instruction of his
spiritual master and the Vaishnavas. If he maintains faith in such instruction, he will gradually develop the
ability to follow it. However, if he imitates their behavior, he is sure to quickly fall.”
Eventually, the brahmacari left the association of Babaji Maharaja, who commented, “Behold! Such people are
so evil minded! He performs Hari-bhajana with a desire to be respected by the common people. After two or
four days he will become greedy for money. Those who are unqualified to carry the burden of asceticism still
want to act as though they were Paramahamsas.”
After this incident the brahmacari decided to return home. One of Babaji Maharaja’s neighbors asked him,
“Why has he been entrapped by Maya despite associating with sadhus. Why isn’t he reaping the result of good
association?” To this, Babaji Maharaja responded, “The pretense of associating with sadhus is not genuine
association with sadhus. One is not benefited if he leaves the association of saintly persons before the benefits
thereof fructify. The brahmacari has gained this much: in the future he will not eat flesh or fish or he will
superficially follow certain principles of pious behavior, but he will not be able to enter into the kingdom of
hari-bhajana.”
46: Anyabhilasha (Desire for Other Things)

Once, the day before the celebration of Rathayatra, Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu asked the people who had
gathered for his association, “Where will you go to see the forthcoming Rathayatra? At Podamatala there is a
large cart and festival, and to the east there is a prominent zamindar who has a cart, and if one goes there he can
get rasagullas and yogurt and flat rice.” In this manner Babaji Maharaja described five or seven places where
Rathayatra was to be held. At this, everyone began to wonder whether Babaji Maharaja was encouraging them
to attend the car festivals. Almost every day they had been gathering to read, Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Srila Babaji Maharaja used give the philosophical
understanding of the portions studied. He liked to repeatedly hear about the character of Prahlada Maharaja,
because Caitanya Mahaprabhu had frequently exhibited the pastime of hearing about the activities of Prahlada
Maharaja. At other times Babaji Maharaja listened to Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-candrika by Narottama dasa
Thakura and would explain the proper conclusions of those songs. A reciter would read the scriptures, but the
commentator was Babaji Maharaja. On the actual day of Rathayatra, the usual class was not held as everyone
had gone to see the chariot parades. Babaji Maharaja opened the door of his thatched cottage, came out and
announced with a slight smile on his face, “Today I can save my breath, as everyone has gone. Those who were
chanting Hari-nama with offense have given up the hearing and chanting of Hari-katha in the association of
devotees, and having gone to see the Rathayatra. They will look at the young women, the crowd of worldly
people and other objects of enjoyment. They have no attraction for hari-bhajana in the association of
Vaishnavas. They have come on the plea of associating with Vaishnavas, but since they lack real attachment
[for hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories] they are being swept away by the current of desires for other
things (anyabhilasha).” Thereafter, Babaji Maharaja began to chant to himself at the top of his voice. Later that
day, seeing those who had participated in the car festival gradually returning, Babaji Maharaja, looking very
grave, did not speak to anyone.
47: Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu on Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Srimati Bhagavati Devi, the wife of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and the Thakura’s second daughter,
Kadambini, sometimes went to Kuliya, Navadvipa, from the Bhakti Bhavan in Calcutta, to have darsana of the
lotus feet of Srila Gaura-kisora Gosvami. On one such occasion Babaji Maharaja questioned them, “Why have
you come to Kuliya, leaving behind the deity [Thakura] of your home? Have you come to shop in the market or
have you come to see the deity of the market? The internal associate of Lord Gaura has appeared in your home.
If you want to keep him there for some time, then you should go home and perform Hari-bhajana with single-
mindedness. Otherwise, you will not be able to keep him there much longer.”
48: The Artful Pastimes of a Vaishnava

When Thakura Bhaktivinoda exhibited his pastime of illness in his final years, he was residing at Bhakti
Bhavan in Calcutta. A caste Gosvami visited Babaji Maharaja in Kuliya, and the latter said, “You go to
Calcutta, the material world, and bring Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to this holy Dhama.” The caste Gosvami
could not grasp what the intimate associate of Lord Caitanya was indicating. He did not understand, tomara
hridoye sada govinda-visrama- “The heart of the Vaishnava is always the resting place of Lord Govinda.” And,
“Wherever there are Vaishnavas, that place is Vrindavana, and in that place there is unlimited bliss.” Wherever
a Maha-bhagavata appears, he lives there with his Goloka associates and serves Krishna, the son of Vraja,
twenty-four hours a day. Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s saying “My house became Goloka” was beyond mere
hyperbole and should be accepted as factual.
When the caste Gosvami arrived in Calcutta, he conveyed Babaji Maharaja’s message to Bhaktivinoda Thakura
and the Thakura responded by giving his blessings to Srila Gaura-kisora for his performance of Hari-bhajana.
Srila Sarasvati Thakura later explained the truth of the Vaishnavas to the ignorant Gosvami, telling him,
“Having perceived the evil in our hearts, the Vaishnavas, in accordance with the verse from Bhagavad-Gita: ye
yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham, deceive us in various ways. Having perceived the motive
with which we approach them, the Vaishnavas feel there will not be much benefit in their instructing us, and
accordingly they speak about various other matters to test our sincerity, keeping themselves absorbed in
uninterrupted bhagavata-bhajana in the meanwhile.” Many materialistic people whimsically approached Srila
Gaura-kisora and were instructed by him according to their predispositions. Being thus deceived, they returned
whence they had come. Hearing ordinary talk from Babaji Maharaja about everyday articles, such as flour, rice,
oil, betel, potatoes, patola, etc., they got the opportunity to become more interested in worldly affairs. If one
possesses a hypocrite’s materialistic instinct, then he cannot truly associate with sadhus. If, on the other hand,
one surrenders fully to a sadhu, he will be pleased to reveal himself to one and will continually speak the
Absolute Truth, free from illusion.
49: Srila Gaura-kisora’s Benediction

Bhakti-pradipa Tirtha Maharaja, with the encouragement of Srila Sarasvati Thakura and the permission of Srila
Thakura Bhaktivinoda, crossed the River Ganges to have darsana of Srila Gaura-kisora Gosvami. Tirtha
Maharaja was a grihastha at the time and had not yet been initiated by Thakura Bhaktivinoda. While going to
visit Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu, he carried a melon with him. Ordinarily Babaji Maharaja did not accept
presents, but when he heard that someone had come from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura he accepted the fruit. He
told that devotee in the dress of a householder to sing some kirtana from Narottama dasa Thakura’s Prarthana.
The householder sang ‘gauranga’ bolite habe pulaka-sarira ‘hari hari’ bolite nayane ba’be nira. Having heard
him sing, Srila Gaura-kisora gave him the following instruction, “Keep faith in the spiritual master and other
Vaishnavas. Be as humble as a blade of grass and with the forbearance of a tree always chant the name of the
Lord. Keep yourself aloof from the association of non-devotees.” Hearing this, Bhakti-pradipa Prabhu told
Babaji Maharaja, “At this time I do not have the shelter of the lotus feet of a guru.” Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu
replied, “You have taken darsana of Srimad Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Mayapura, and that is the place of atma-
nivedana-complete surrender. As you have surrendered yourself to the lotus feet of the bona fide guru, then how
can you say you have not achieved his shelter? Bhaktivinoda Thakura is waiting for you. Go and take his
mercy!” After hearing this, the grihastha devotee got his head shaved. Srila Gaura-kisora Prabhu then told him,
“When you take sannyasa, the name of Mahaprabhu will be spread from country to country and village to
village.” Thus blessed by Babaji Maharaja, Bhakti-pradipa Prabhu touched his lotus feet and offered him
obeisances. When hypocritical and materialistic people came to pay respects to Babaji Maharaja in that manner,
he would say, “Everything you have will be destroyed. Your home will be razed to the ground.” In this way he
displayed his pastime of anger. In this case, however, his attitude was quite different. That same day the devotee
went to Godruma to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and was initiated by him into the kama-bija and kama -gayatri
mantras. According to the prediction of Babaji Maharaja, he was the first disciple to be given tridanda-sannyasa
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, whom he considered his siksha-guru. He was known as Bhakti-
pradipa Tirtha Maharaja. According to his capacity, he preached the philosophy of Lord Caitanya and Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura in India and abroad.
50: His Entrance Into the Eternal Pastimes of the Lord

In the Bengali year 1322, at dawn, on the thirtieth day of the month of Karttika, corresponding to November 16,
1915, Srila Gaura-kisora Dasa Gosvami entered the eternal pastimes of the Lord. That day at sunrise, Srila
Sarasvati Thakura left Sri Mayapura for the Rani Dharmasala at Kuliya, where Babaji Maharaja had been
staying. The head priests of Navadvipa’s various temples and asramas began to argue amongst themselves about
where Babaji Maharaja’s spiritual body would be interred. A heated argument arose. There was a material
motive behind the dispute, for the contending parties considered that establishing the Babaji’s samadhi at their
asrama or temple would put them in a position to earn handsomely from the pilgrims who would flock to see the
tomb of the Paramahamsa. Srila Sarasvati Thakura opposed their illegitimate attempts, however. Apprehending
a breach of peace, Navadvipa’s Inspector of Police, who was at that time Mr. Jatindranath Simha, arrived there.
After much controversy the various hypocritical Vaishnavas stated their position: “Srila Sarasvati Thakura is
not a sannyasi and thus has no right to prepare a samadhi for a person who has renounced his home.” Hearing
their pronouncement Sarasvati Thakura replied in a voice like thunder, saying, “I am the sole disciple of
Paramahamsa Babaji Maharaja. Even though I have not accepted sannyasa, I am a celibate brahmacari, and, by
the grace of Babaji Maharaja, I am not a hypocritical renunciate secretly addicted to abominable habits or
fornication as some monkeylike people are. I take pride in saying this as a bearer of Babaji Maharaja’s shoes. If
there is someone here who is a renunciate of truly stainless character, then he can come forward and arrange for
the samadhi. I have no objection to that. He who within the last one year, or six months, three months, one
month or even three days has not indulged in illicit association with women will be able to touch this spiritually
blissful body. If anyone else touches it, he will be completely ruined.” Hearing these words the Inspector of
Police said, “How will the evidence for this be produced?” Srila Sarasvati Thakura rejoined, “I will believe
what they say.” After this challenge was offered, the Babajis turned their backs one by one and departed from
that place. The Inspector of Police was dumbfounded.
Some of the people remaining there advised that Babaji Maharaja had expressed a last desire that his body be
dragged through the streets of Navadvipa in the dust of the Dhama. To this Sarasvati Thakura replied,
“Although we are fools, inexperienced and offenders, we will still not be disinclined to understand the true
meaning of those humility filled words, which have been spoken by my Gurudeva to destroy the pride of
worldly-minded people. Even Krishnacandra will personally think Himself successful if He carries my
Gurudeva on His head or shoulders. After the departure of Haridasa Thakura, Sri Gaurasundara took the
spiritual body of the Thakura on His lap and danced. What dignity He adorned it with! Therefore, following in
the footsteps of Sriman Mahaprabhu, we shall also bear Babaji Maharaja’s spiritually blissful body on our
heads.”
On the following day, November 17, 1915, on the Utthana Ekadasi in the afternoon and according to the
scriptural ordinances, Srila Sarasvati Thakura laid the body of his guru to rest on a newly formed sandpit of the
Ganges at Kuliya. A low caste person of Lohagara from the district of Jessore donated his property and claimed
to give up all rights to it. Yet after some time he forgot his promise and utilized that land for various illicit
materialistic activities. Although he was criticized for this, he maintained his pride and committed offenses to
the eternal associates of Lord Caitanya. Sixteen years later, by the will of Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja,
his place of rest was eroded by the River Ganges and inundated by it. Srila Sarasvati Thakura organized a party
of men and recovered the samadhi intact and brought it to the bank of Radha-kunda at Vrajapattana, where he
reestablished it before a memorial to Sri Guna Manjari. Nitya Gauranga dasa Adhikari, a disciple of Srila
Sarasvati Thakura, helped to construct a beautiful samadhi-temple on the site.
We close our recounting of the transcendental deeds of Babaji Maharaja with this oft-recited prayer:
namo gaura-kisoraya sakshad-vairagya-murtaye
vipralambha-rasambhode padambujaya te namah
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja [the spiritual master of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati], who is renunciation personified. He is always merged in a feeling of separation
from and intense love of Krishna.”
BM: Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji
Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji

Om Vishnupada Sri Srimad Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja appeared in this world sometime around 1750
A.D. in a remote village in the subdivision of Tangail, in the district of Mayaman Singh, in what is now known
as Bangladesh. He belonged to a very aristocratic family.
The Gaudiya Vedantacarya Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana’s initiated disciple was Uddhava dasa Babaji, and
his initiated disciple was Madhusudana dasa Babaji, and Jagannatha dasa Babaji accepted Babaji initiation from
Madhusudana dasa Babaji Maharaja. According to the Gaudiya- vaishnava-jiivana the diksha-guru of
Jagannatha dasa Babaji was Jagadananda Gosvami of Sringarvat, Vrindavana, whose vesa-guru was Krishna
dasa Babaji of Govardhana fame.
Jagannatha dasa Babaji performed bhajana in Vraja-mandala for many years. He was famed throughout the
region as a siddha-baba (a perfectly realized soul). He was known to sometimes chant continuously for three
days and nights in a row without sleeping, and he would fast throughout. After the completion of his vow, he
would breakfast upon flat rice and yogurt prasada.
In the year 1880, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura visited Babaji Maharaja’s lotus feet in Vrindavana and got many
valuable instructions from him. In the 1880’s the Paramahamsa Babaji came to the Burdwan District, staying in
the village of Amalajoda. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura went there on the pretext of government business, thereby
obtaining the association of Jagannatha dasa Babaji for the second time. The Babaji was delighted by
Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s enthusiasm for preaching the glories of the Holy Name of Krishna. Thereafter,
Jagannatha dasa Babaji sojourned in Burdwan for eleven days and performed uninterrupted kirtana (chanting
and scriptural discussion) day and night. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura established a prapanna-asrama (a
monastery for surrender to Krishna) in Amalajoda village.
In the year 1893, Jagannatha dasa Babaji was residing in Kuliya, Navadvipa, and he went to see Surabhi Kunja,
the residence of Thakura Bhaktivinoda. The entire grove was electrified by his arrival and appeared especially
beautiful. Later, together with his followers, he proceeded to Mayapura and visited many holy places like the
Yogapitha, Srivasangana, etc. When he arrived at the birthplace of Lord Gaura, which had been discovered by
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he began to dance in ecstasy, although he was very old at the time, and had previously
been thought unable to walk. He thus established the authenticity of the site beyond any doubt. He spent some
time at the Yogapitha in the association of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and he miraculously cured one of the
Thakura’s sons of a skin disease simply by telling him to lie down in the dust of the Lord’s place of appearance.
He passed most of the time chanting the Holy Name on the bank of the Ganges in Kuliya. His bhajana kutira
and samadhi may still be seen there. One day he asked Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to construct a veranda to
shelter the devotees who came to see him, which the Thakura did immediately.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was well versed in astronomy by the age of twelve. Hearing of this, Babaji
Maharaja summoned him one day and instructed him to make a Vaishnava calendar which would include the
appearance and disappearance days of all the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Vishnu-priya
Thakurani. Accordingly, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura made the necessary calculations and began
publication of the Sri Navadvipa-pancika.
Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s life and soul was the chanting of the Holy Name and rendering service to Vaishnavas.
He lived on this earth for 135 years (according to Gaura-parishada-caritavali) and preached the Holy Name of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Although he was almost bent double in his old age, still, during the time of kirtana,
his body would expand to well over six feet, and his appearance would replicate the dancing figure of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
His favorite disciple was Bhagavat dasa Babaji, who had accepted Babaji initiation from him. Gaura- kisora
dasa Babaji took Babaji initiation from Srila Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja. Gaurahari dasa Babaji, Ramahari
dasa Babaji and Nityananda dasa Babaji were disciples of Jagannatha dasa Babaji who hailed from Barsana in
Vraja-mandala. Another disciple, called Krishna dasa Babaji, was from Kadamkhandi. Srila Jagannatha dasa
Babaji Maharaja’s personal servant and disciple, Sri Bihari dasa, was very stout and powerful. Due to Babaji
Maharaja’s advanced age he could apparently not walk. Sri Bihari used to carry him everywhere on his shoulder
in a bamboo basket. Once, when he was traveling thus, a wealthy man gave him a rupee, which was deposited
with Babaji Maharaja’s servant, Bihari. After journeying for some miles, Srila Babaji Maharaja had his servant
take him back to the donor and he returned his one rupee. He told the man, “I understand that you have a good
deal of money. I could not bear the burden of one rupee, and I wonder how you tolerate the burden of so many.”
Babaji Maharaja sometimes accepted donations for rendering service to the Vaishnavas, but in this instance he
instructively exhibited his detachment, showing how one must be wary of accepting charity from the pounds,
shillings and pence class of men.
Inspired by Bihari dasa, the villagers of Surya-kunda built a room and a small temple for Srila Jagannatha dasa
Babaji Maharaja. The Siddha Baba asked Bihari dasa to install a Deity in the temple. Upon receiving this order,
Bihari proceeded to Sonaruddi village, which was about eight miles from Katoa. He requested the local landlord
to give him a Deity. He duly received Gaura-Nitai Deities, went to Calcutta, and collected donations totaling
5,000 rupees from Srinath Rai, the renowned Laha families and others. He then returned to Surya-kunda. With
great pomp and festivity, the Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai were installed in the temple, where They glistened
like gold. Shortly thereafter, a band of dacoits stormed the temple one night and attempted to carry away the
Deities, thinking them to be actually fashioned from gold. However, they were unsuccessful in attempting to
purloin those Golden Lords and fell exhausted in the temple. They fled without achieving their aim just before
the arrival of dawn. This incident disturbed Babaji Maharaja greatly, and he told Bihari dasa to donate the
Deities to some devotee in Vrindavana. Bihari dasa went to Vrindavana town and presented them to a Gosvami
of Bengali extraction. These Deities are still being worshipped in the temple of Dhobigati of Gopalbagh and are
famous by the name of Sonar Gaura, i.e. the Golden Gaura.
Several days after this incident, Srila Babaji Maharaja told Bihari dasa, “I cannot live without the Deities. Bring
another Deity from wherever you can find one.” Hearing his guru-maharaja’s command, Bihari proceeded to
Radha-kunda and met Sri Dhenu dasa Babaji of Mathura. There, in Radha-kunda in a stack of hay, which had
been gathered for feeding the cows, they discovered a Deity of Shad-bhuja, a six-armed Deity of Lord
Ramacandra, Lord Krishnacandra and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu combined. Bihari dasa had the Deity
properly painted in Vrindavana, and returned to Surya-kunda with great enthusiasm. The beautiful form of the
Lord was installed according to the scriptural ordinances, and Srila Babaji Maharaja worshipped Him for ten
years.
With the passing of a decade, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja was inspired to go to Navadvipa, and he
therefore requested Bihari dasa to deliver the Deity to someone in Vrindavana. Bihari dasa thus proceeded to
Vrindavana and gave the Deity to the head priest of the Gopala-guru-asrama, who was known as Sri Narottama
dasa Babaji. The Lord in his six-armed form is worshipped to this day in the Shad-bhuja Temple situated in a
lane near Nidhuvana.
Bihari then carried his guru-maharaja on his shoulder to the Mathura Railway Station and boarded a train for
Navadvipa. When they reached the Memri station in Bardhawan, a British railway officer was so impressed by
the simplicity and blissful nature of Srila Babaji Maharaja that he assisted them in many ways. They alighted
from the train, before reaching Navadvipa, hired a bullock cart and traveled to the asrama of a famous pure soul
named Sri Bhagavan dasa Babaji, who resided at Ambika-Kalna in Bengal. This great soul was extremely
pleased to see Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, and he exclaimed in a state of transcendental exultation,
“Oh! My friend has come!” He then embraced Sri Jagannatha dasa Babaji. Both of them fell to the ground in a
state of profound transcendental ecstasy and, becoming unconscious, entered into an impenetrable, spiritual
trance. They remained motionless, locked in their embrace of loving friendship from ten o’clock in the morning
until eleven o’clock that night. The servants of the two Siddha Babas began to feel uneasy, and Sri Vishnudasa,
the servant of Sri Bhagavan dasa Babaji Maharaja, requested Bihari dasa to do something to bring them back to
external awareness. Bihari dasa began to massage his guru’s chest and chant the maha-mantra-this device
brought them both back into external consciousness, and they got up. Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja
had not eaten or drunk during his three days of travel, and so prasada was immediately arranged and he broke
his fast at midnight. After this, they slept a while.
After staying at Kalna for ten days, Jagannatha dasa Prabhu decided to proceed to Navadvipa by bullock cart.
Bhagavan dasa Babaji had only eighteen rupees in his possession, but he insisted upon giving it to Jagannatha
dasa Babaji for his journey, which he happily accepted. On the way, Bihari inquired where they would stay in
Navadvipa, suggesting that they stay in a large asrama popularly called “Bada-akhara”.
Srila Babaji Maharaja replied, “No, we will not stay in any asrama. We will stay under some tree.” They indeed
stayed under a tree for some time, but later a devotee named Sri Madhava Datta purchased the land adjacent to
the tree and donated it to the Babaji. A year later, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura built two small huts there for him.
Rajarsi Sri Vanamali Rai, a famous landlord, built three more huts and a boundary wall about them. An elderly
and wealthy lady had a well dug for drinking water. The Babaji stayed there in Kuliya for thirty-two years.
According to Gaudiya-vaishnava-jivana he lived to the age of 147 years, at which time he entered the pastimes
of the Lord.
He used to strictly and regularly follow the vows of Caturmasya (the four-month-long rainy season). In the first
month he would take only four bananas each day in the evening. In the second month he would only take
guavas. In the third month he drank some buttermilk. And in the fourth month, he consumed only the flowers of
the banana tree. He once went to Rishikesh to purify his chanting, which involved the performance of the
purificatory practice called purascarana. This penance had to be performed with extreme rigidity. He used to
bathe at three o’clock in the morning and chant inside a closed room until sunset without speaking or eating. In
order to complete the vow properly one is expected to take bath after each call of nature and even after passing
air. Once, after observing this regimen for two months, he inadvertently spoke to Bihari dasa. He began the
entire process again and completed his vow in three months’ time. He thereafter pronounced that if one wanted
to have darsana of Lord Krishna as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he should perform purascarana in this manner.
Babaji Maharaja once accepted some bread from a person belonging to the sweeper caste in Vrindavana. This
action was much criticized by the local Vaishnava community. Many people approached him and challenged
him to explain his action. He replied, “Do you know who these sweepers are? Before appearing in Vraja-
Dhama, Lord Krishna asked 88,000 sages to take birth there, and they were born in low-class families. Devotees
reside in Vraja-Dhama simply to get the opportunity of smearing their bodies with its dust and indeed to give up
their bodies here. These sweepers are always serving the dust of Vrindavana. Therefore, I regard them as
servants of Vraja-Dhama and see them as no different from any other Vaishnavas.” After this incident, the
Babaji decided to chant in seclusion, and proceeded to a place called Pesi Kadankhandi, which was miles away
from any village, near Khandirvana, one of Vraja’s twelve forests. He and Bihari spent the Dasami and Ekadasi
there, fasting completely. On the Dvadasi morning, Bihari began to think that Srila Babaji Maharaja had gone to
a place where nothing was available to eat, and that the Ekadasi fast could not be properly broken by their
eating prasada made from grains. However, the Babaji ordered Bihari to chant the Maha-mantra loudly to the
accompaniment of karatalas, and before noon a Brijbasi came and brought some grains for them to prepare
prasada. From the following day onward, huge amounts of milk came to them daily.
Wherever they went, prasada was always miraculously available to them. Once, in Navadvipa, a similar event
took place during the rainy season. The whole city was flooded with the water of the Ganges, and it continued
raining heavily for one week. No one could go out to beg alms. Suddenly, four persons appeared in a small boat
and donated Babaji Maharaja 20 kilograms of flat-rice, yogurt and sandesa.
While he was staying in Navadvipa, he became the object of great affection and acclaim. On one occasion, the
famous landlord, Srinath Rai, and several family members went to have an audience with the famous saintly
person. Not recognizing him they asked if he knew where the famous siddha baba lived. Srila Babaji Maharaja
replied, “I don’t know anyone who is a siddha baba here. I am staying here, but I am simply an ordinary living
entity like all of you.” The Rais then realized that they were actually addressing Srila Babaji Maharaja, who was
completely free from any desire for recognition or fame. Nevertheless, they humbly requested him to show
them a miracle. Becoming disturbed, the Babaji declared, “I don’t know how to perform any miracles.” He then
picked up a stick and started beating the ground, apparently out of annoyance. The landlord, fearful that he had
committed an offense, begged the Babaji not to be angry with them for their having made an unpleasant request.
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji replied, “I am not angry with you. I was just chasing out a goat who was eating the
Tulasi plant near the cottage of Srila Lokanatha Gosvami at Radha-kunda.”
The Rais were much astonished to hear this, and to test the veracity of his statement they immediately sent a
reply paid telegram to Radha-kunda. The reply came back the following day, and it confirmed that a goat had
entered the cottage of Srila Lokanatha Gosvami and ruined the Tulasi plant there. This incident convinced many
doubting persons of the Babaji’s perfection. They returned to see him and fell at his feet to offer their obeisance.
Perfect devotees of the Lord, being disinterested in the material universe, never desired to make an exhibition of
miraculous powers. In order to increase the faith of worldly creatures, however, they are sometimes inspired by
the indwelling Godhead to perform some supramundane deed for their edification.
Once, while residing in Navadvipa, Bihari dasa became seriously ill. He suffered a severe fever and delirium,
and periodically lapsed into unconsciousness. A medical expert was summoned from Calcutta, but he declared
that the illness was too far advanced to respond to treatment. He predicted that Bihari would expire before
morning. Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja then sat by the side of his dear servant. He put a sanctified
Tulasi leaf in his mouth and began to chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Within half an hour Bihari was
cured. He rose from his bed and proceeded to the kitchen to cook prasada, knowing that Srila Babaji Maharaja,
who had fasted throughout his servitor’s illness, would not eat anything unless it was prepared by him.
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji used to say that the best time for chanting was from three o’clock in the morning
until seven in the morning, and again from sunset until eleven o’clock at night. He declared that no serious-
minded devotee should sleep during these hours, as Lord Siva comes to inspect the devotees of his guru, Lord
Krishna, at those times.
Although the Babaji could not walk properly during his last years, still he would dance very enthusiastically
during the performance of sankirtana. His body would expand while dancing. He daily paid one-thousand
obeisances to his Giridhari Deity until the last day of his life. He did not like the idea of leaving any prasada on
his plate, and if he thought anyone was going to eat his remnants, he would consume every last morsel, and
even the leaf plate to prevent it.
Bihari dasa was illiterate and did not even know the alphabet. One day Srila Babaji Maharaja asked him to read
the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita to him. When Bihari reminded his guru Maharaja of his illiteracy, the Babaji
requested him to simply look at the book for some time and then start chanting its stanzas. Within minutes,
Bihari dasa started reciting the pastimes of Lord Caitanya from the pages of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.
Whenever he went to Calcutta, he would sojourn in the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Maniktala Street.
Many devotees tried to take him to their homes to give him prasada, but he never accepted their invitations. He
donated a Govardhana-sila to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who worshipped the sila at his Bhakti Bhavan.
His eyesight was dimmed due to old age, and people who came to see him used to offer donations. Bihari dasa
would keep the contributions in an empty clay water-pot. One day, Babaji Maharaja suddenly asked, “Bihari,
give me all the donations you have received.” Bihari would sometimes set some of the money aside for Babaji
Maharaja’s needs, but Jagannatha dasa Babaji would immediately discern the exact amount missing and
demand that it be returned. Bihari would laugh and immediately comply. Babaji Maharaja used to spend the
collection according to his own grave desires. Once he purchased 200 rupees-worth of rasagullas for the cows
of Navadvipa-Dhama-an enormous amount of sweetmeats in those days!
On another occasion, a dog gave birth to five puppies on the bank of the Ganges near Babaji Maharaja’s
bhajana kutira. When the sage sat down to take prasada, the dogs sat around his plate. Bihari tried to move some
of the puppies, but Babaji Maharaja said, “Take my plate away, I will not eat today”, whereat Bihari would
produce the dogs and say, “Here are the dogs.” Babaji Maharaja would say fondly, “They are the dogs of the
Dhama.”
Many people used to approach Babaji Maharaja and beg to be initiated by him, but he did not generally accept
them. He would, however, request them to render various kinds of service. Most of them would soon leave due
to the pressure of being heavily engaged by him. One gentleman in particular, Sri Gaura Hari dasa, came for
initiation, but Babaji Maharaja refused to accept him. On that account Gaura Hari fasted for three days in front
of the Paramahamsa’s cottage. Finally, Babaji Maharaja took mercy on him and granted him Babaji initiation.
He once told a professional Bhagavatam reciter, “Your speaking the Bhagavatam is the same business as a
prostitute’s. Those who recite the Bhagavatam as a business are offenders of the Holy Name, and one should
not hear from them. If anyone hears from them, he will simply become degraded.” That gentleman immediately
ceased his recitations, and he became a great devotee, living a humble existence in Vrindavana.
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji used to stay six months in Vraja and six months in Navadvipa-Dhdma. According
to Gaudiya-vaishnava-jivana, at the advanced age of 146, when he was set to travel to Navadvipa from Radha-
kunda, many Brijbasis and other Vaishnavas went to him to inquire why he was leaving Vraja-Dhama at such
an advanced age. In a very humble and transcendentally depressed mood he replied, “You can all stay here in
Vraja-Dhama because you are all pure Vaishnavas. I am very offensive, and therefore it is better for me to stay
at Navadvipa. Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai do not count one’s offenses, as They have appeared to
liberate all offenders. But here in Vraja-Dhama offenses are counted and reactions thereto are strictly enforced.”
This was his last journey to Navadvipa-Dhama. A few months after his arrival, on the first day of the new moon
in the month of Phalguna, a fortnight before the anniversary of Lord Caitanya’s appearance, he entered the
Lord’s eternal pastimes.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura used to always call Srila Babaji Maharaja, Vaishnava-Sarvabhauma-the
“Commander-in-chief” of the Vaishnavas.
gauravirbhava-bhumes tvam nirdeshta saj-jana-priyah vaishnava-sarvabhaumah sri-jagannathaya te namah
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who is respected by the entire Vaishnava
community and who discovered the place where Lord Caitanya appeared.”
Appendices

‘108 Vishnupad Sreela Gaur-kishore Das”

by Prof. Nishikanta Sanyal, M.A.

The following essay was written by Professor Sanyal for Sajjana Toshani under the direction of its Editor, Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. The reader should note that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura wished to have himself portrayed as an ordinary conditioned soul in the section detailing his
approaching Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja for initiation, and should not unnecessarily ascribe any fault to
his obedient disciple in that regard!
The infinitesimal dissociated particle of the power of the Absolute, that manifests himself on the border-line
between the spiritual and mundane spheres, is all-spirit in essence. In other words he has his own unalloyed
spiritual body and senses which are identical with his entity. It is both natural as well as easy for him to seek
incorporation in the spiritual sphere. He may or may not be incorporated in the realm of the spirit even when he
seeks for the same. He may also seek to function in the mundane sphere. But he may not obtain the automatic
fulfillment of his wish also for this purpose. Nevertheless it is far easier for him to obtain a footing in the
spiritual than in the mundane realm.
This infinitesimal particle has perfect freedom of choice between two incompatible and alternative courses of
conduct. He may choose to serve the Absolute or, in the alternative, to dominate over (measure) the non-
absolutes. He is unable to realise either of these wishes till he is prepared to undergo a process of progressive
acclimatization to either sphere under proper guidance. It is only by strenuous whole-hearted endeavour, backed
by the guidance of a power far superior to himself, that the infinitesimal entity is gradually enabled to find his
footing and function in the respective spheres.
The mundane is not independent of the spiritual sphere. It consists of two distinct constituents viz., semi-
conscious and unconscious entities. The semi-conscious entities, dwelling in the mundane sphere, do not
possess real consciousness. They possess only shadowy or deceptive consciousness. The apparently semi-
conscious entities are termed ‘jiva-maya’ while the unconscious entities are ‘jada-maya’. ‘Jiva-maya’ is related
to ‘jada-maya’ as enjoyer and enjoyed, measurer and measured, lord and servant.
The term ‘to measure’ and ‘to enjoy’ are in the above sense synonymous. They denote the activity of the
mundane mind misidentified by the soul in the conditioned state as his own. The infinitesimal Absolute is said
to wish for a footing in the spiritual sphere when he is inclined to learn to serve the Absolute Infinity under His
unconditional guidance. He is said to wish to function in the mundane sphere if he is inclined to learn to lord it
over the entities of this material world. This latter function is, however, not practicable till he is endowed with a
second ego and material organs by means of which he is enabled to establish contact with mundane entities. The
second ego is ‘jiva- maya’. It is so constituted that the soul can identify himself with its entity and through its
means establish the relation of lord, enjoyer or ‘measurer’ with the entities of this world.
By the above process this mundane civilization has been built up. It should be possible to retrace our steps, by a
system of corresponding activities, towards the service of the Absolute Infinity. But so long as a person
continues to be enamoured of the state of lordship over ‘Nature’, he is not likely to go in for the alternative
course.
Sreela Gaur-Kishore Das Babaji was known to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava communities of both Nabadwip and
Braja as a self-realised soul and for his severe asceticism. He was utterly lacking in all those qualifications that
are valued by worldly people.
A Vaishnava ascetic does not belong to the category of the destitute, unemployed and stupid people of this
world. Sreela Gaur-Kishore Das Babaji has also nothing in common with that objectionable type of the Babajis
of Nabadwip and Brindavan who are the very worst specimens of fallen humanity. Sreela Gaur-Kishore Das
Babaji did not also belong to the category of the infinitesimal absolutes. He belonged to the Divine category of
plenary power and as such it was never possible for the conditions of the physical or mental spheres of this
mundane world to exercise any control over him. But he chose to appear to the perverted view of worldly
people in the likeness of a mortal being destitute of all good and bad qualities and given to the severest ascetic
practices.
It was to this Vaishnava ascetic that the Editor of this journal was directed by Sreela Thakur Bhaktivinode for
receiving his spiritual enlightenment. The Editor was then passing as a young man of high lineage possessing a
handsome physical appearance, a keen and trained intellect and the purest morals. From the worldly point of
view he was thus the exact contrast of the person to whom he was sent for his spiritual guidance.
Sreela Gaur-Kishore Das Babaji promptly refused to have anything to do with the deputed supplicant of his
mercy on the ground that Krishna would never accept a person so utterly unfitted for His service. It seems that
the earthly merits of Editor were his spiritual drawback. But as Editor was not prepared for such a rude jerk to
his vanity, it was with the greatest difficulty that he could retain his better judgment and rightly guess the
hidden purpose of Sreela Thakur Bhaktivinode in sending him to a person who is not to be captivated by his
good morals and high intellectual equipment.
To his worldly contemporaries Sreela Gaur-Kishore Das Babaji appeared to have had very few and simple
occupations. He passed all his time in a tiny shed, ate raw earth and similar food, dispensed with all covering
for his body and seldom spoke to any visitor.
The Editor on meeting with the above rebuff did not give up the attempt of obtaining his mercy. His sincerity
was tested and rewarded after due trial of his perseverance. He happened to be the only disciple that Babaji
Maharaja ever had.
After having received the mercy of Babaji Maharaj, Editor experienced such a complete upsetting of his outlook
on life that for a year he could feel no interest in any other affair. His days and nights were fully devoted to
living communion with the Divine Personality of the Guru in the privacy of a solitary room which he had built
for himself at Sreedham Mayapur.
From this time to the disappearance of Babaji Maharaj, Editor seldom met his saviour at the latter’s shed and,
when he met Babaji Maharaj at his place, did not spend much time in his company. But there were a number of
persons who stayed at all time with Babaji Maharaj and practised austerities in imitation of his conduct. These
persons regarded themselves intimate associates and elected recipients of the special mercy of Sreela Gaur-
Kishore. But it so happened that none of them could long retain intact their artificial modes of living, and all of
them fell away even from the path of ordinary morality.
Those persons had not and as a matter of fact very few persons of this world have any idea of the real nature of
spiritual communion with the Divine Master. Spiritual discipleship is realised by the disciple being raised to the
plane of spiritual communion with the Divine Master. This communion is not interruptable by any interval of
time or space, and is practised on a plane and by means of instrumentals whose nature and existence are utterly
incomprehensible to the uninitiated.
I was not, therefore, surprised on going through the letter of Professor Bauver of Zeko-Slovakia to the Editor
requesting information about the number of disciples, the details of publications and other particulars about the
Gaudiya Mission, in order to be enabled to form an idea of the nature of the purpose, method and popularity of
the cause. It is the most illogical of blunders to seek to be acquainted with the activities of a religious Mission
by the statistical method. No human ingenuity can enable a person to force an entry into the realm of the
Absolute. The causeless mercy of the pure devotee can alone acquaint us with his real personality.
There is no worldly means of understanding the ways of the soul on his own plane of unalloyed cognition.
When Babaji Maharaj was pleased to disappear from the view of the people of this world, an attempt was made
by those very persons who used to be in attendance upon him to commit a horrible offence against his holy
transcendental body, which appeared to them to be a corpse, by causing it to be dragged along the streets of the
town of Nabadwip by a rope fastened to the neck, in pursuance of a verbal instruction to that effect left to them
by Babaji Maharaj himself It appeared that Babaji Maharaj had told them that as he had never served God his
body would be purified by contact with the pure dust of Holy Nabadwip if his body was dragged through its
streets by the hands of scavengers pulling it by a cord fastened round his neck. Editor who was at Sreedham
Mayapur at the time of the disappearance of Babaji Maharaj arrived just in time to be able to prevent those
rascals from carrying out their horrible sacrilege. He told them that Babaji Maharaj had lamented the fate of bad
men like themselves by such instructions regarding the disposal of his own transcendental body and that none
among them according to the Shastras was eligible to touch his body unless they had been uncontaminated by
carnal association with loose women at least the previous night. This statement produced the strange effect of
dissuading all those persons from laying their hands on the transcendental remains of the great saint.
Editor was enjoined by Sreela Babaji Maharaj not to stay in Calcutta which place was described by him as the
seat of Discord (Kali), as nobody there possessed any spiritual inclination. The busy life of a great modern city
absorbed in the pursuit of wealth is particularly unsuited for fostering spiritual interest.
But Editor did not receive the advice in its literal sense. He could understand that those words were expressive
of the most profound concern for the spiritual well-being of the citizens of the premier city of India, who had no
time or inclination for giving their serious thought to the needs of their souls. He accordingly conceived the
resolution of preaching the tidings of the Transcendental Service of Krishna to the peoples of all the great cities
of the world and to make Calcutta the head-quarters of this propaganda. He has worked for the realisation of
this idea in the face of the greatest public indifference to the concerns of the soul.
The utterances from the press and the platform of the Editor have since been carried to the remotest parts of
India, to Burma and Europe, by the agency of a large number of dedicated souls who have joined the Mission.
It is not possible to bring out in detail the bearing of the doings of Sreela Babaji Maharaj on these activities of
the Editor within the limits of a short article, nor to explain their connection with the conduct and writings of
Thakur Bhaktivinode who initiated the movement for the propagation of the Teaching of Mahaprabhu Sree-
Krishna-Chaitanya. Empiric critics have not failed to detect serious discrepancies between the doings and
sayings of the Editor and the words and conduct of Sreela Babaji Maharaj and Thakur Bhaktivinode. But such
misunderstanding is only one more instance of the failure of the attempt of worldly-minded people to
understand the transcendental careers of pure devotees with the resources of their limited misguided judgment.
Sree Krishna-Chaitanya stresses the supreme necessity of serving the Transcendental Name of Krishna
appearing on the lips of His pure devotees for the purpose of attaining to the transcendental plane of unclouded
judgment of our awakened souls. On that plane there is activity of the cognitive energy of Krishna, which an
undivided whole, so that the Name on that plane is identical with the object itself. Every activity of the pure
devotee is characterized by both fullness as well as individuality. By taking the Name of Krishna the devotee
serves Krishna in every way. The devotee is constantly engaged in chanting the Name of Krishna as he does
nothing but the Service of Krishna and as the performance of every form of His Service is a performance of all
its forms. It is to this transcendental plane of the activities of the plenary cognitive potency of Krishna that the
performances of Sreela Babaji Maharaj and Thakur Bhaktivinode belong. It is not possible to understand how
both of them are constantly engaged in the service of Krishna in every way, till one is admitted to the very
highest plane of the transcendental service by their special mercy.
It is not possible to understand the real nature of the practice of austerities by Sreela Babaji Maharaj unless we
are lifted to the plane of his transcendental activities by being inclined to submit unconditionally to the guidance
of the plenary power of Krishna or the Divine Master (sat-guru) by his special mercy. This is the result of
spiritual initiation.
The eligibility to confer the fullest measure of enlightenment is certainly a large claim to be made on behalf of
any empiric teacher. But it is the irreducible minimum claim on behalf of a real teacher of religion. It is
meaningless for any person to pose as a teacher of religion unless he is in a position to lift his pupil to the plane
of his transcendental discourse. This function can be performed only by the power of Krishna or God Himself.
Krishna is the Supreme World-teacher. He teaches all souls by appearing in the Form of the Divine Sound on
the lips of His Power or the Saviour Guru. The Name is the Supreme Teacher. The power of the Name, by
means of whose agency the Name manifests Himself, is the Guru. The Guru or power of Krishna lifts the soul
to the plane of the Transcendental Name and also establishes and maintains contact of the soul with Krishna.
Excerpts from Letters by Srila Prabhupada

“So far as your second question [is concerned], Thakur Bhaktivinode was not official Spiritual Master of Gour
Kishore das Babaji Maharaj. Gour Kishore das Babaji Maharaj was already renounced order, Paramhamsa, but
Thakur Bhaktivinode while He was even playing the part of a householder, was treated by Gour Kishore das
Babaji Maharaj as Preceptor, on account of His highly elevated spiritual understanding, and thus He was always
treating Him as His Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master is divided into two parts; namely, siksha guru and
diksha guru. So officially Bhaktivinode Thakur was like siksha guru of Gour Kishore das Babaji Maharaj.”
(SPL 69-5-1)
“You have suggested that on every back cover there will be a picture of me in BTG, but I think a better proposal
is that on page one or page three you may have a picture of me one month, then Guru Maharaj, then Gour
Kishore das Babaji, then Bhaktivinode Thakur, then Jagannath das Babaji, then Lord Chaitanya. This will be
very nice, showing the Guru Parampara.” (SPL 69-7-56)
“Yes, there are examples of Krishna conscious persons whose worship was solitary life, and the greatest
example is Haridas Thakur. Haridas Thakur used to live only in a cave sometimes and would spend his whole
time chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. Similarly, Gour Kishore das Babaji, the spiritual master of my guru
maharaj, would chant alone in a solitary place so as not to be bothered by anyone in his meditation on Krishna.
But these great personalities are not to be imitated. If we artificially imitate, out of some negative feeling or out
of desire for adoration as a saintly person, it will not be very beneficial. On the authority of Lord Caitanya and
my spiritual master, I am requesting my disciples to always stay in the association of devotees and to propagate
the sankirtan movement all over the world, so that others may get a chance also to become liberated from the
material condition. Prahlad Maharaj prayed, ‘I am not satisfied to go back to the kingdom of God alone, but I
must bring back with me all these poor fools who have no alternative ultimately than to surrender to You.’ This
form of worship is called gostanandi is more superior than the bhajananandi, or the holy man who lives alone in
meditation of the Lord within the heart. This is the estimation of scripture.” (SPL 74-6-35)